CHAIRMAN’S WELCOME
A t the end of a difficult 2020 globally, New Year’s Day 2021 is an opportunity to reset and look forward. It is fantastic to see racegoers back, even in reduced numbers, to enjoy this important day at Flemington. We have been
celebrating New Year’s Day at the races regularly for more than 150 years – in fact since as long ago as 1866. What a way it was to start the New Year back then, with a rich “Champion Race” of 3 miles (4828 metres) as the feature race, along with the first VRC Grand National Steeplechase. Today’s feature races, the Standish and the Bagot Handicaps, are our salute to that tradition. They date back to 1883. It was said that Captain Frederick Standish liked a drink and a bet. He was on the first VRC committee and is credited with the idea of the Melbourne
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