– Keep an eye out for our picture gallery of the Werribee Cup
Werribee Racing Club hopes to leave the past behind as it celebrates the return of racing to Wyndham this Sunday.
The $80,000 Werribee Cup was set for November 13. But six days before the event, Racing Victoria ruled that the Bulban Road club’s recently renovated track was not ready.
The inside seven metres of the track were renovated after a race meeting was abandoned on July 17. An apprentice jockey was thrown into a railing when the horse he was riding put his foot in a hole on the track and broke his leg.
The horse was put down and the jockey was taken to hospital with suspected leg injuries.
Racing Victoria’s decision forced the club to reschedule the cup for this Sunday and combine it with its planned Christmas race day.
General manager Ross Kendell said people were understandably disappointed the cup had to be moved to December, but the community had thrown its support behind the new date.
“We worked so hard to get a spring date back again, so people were disappointed, but we will give it another push next year,” he said.
“When we changed the date we braced for the worst but, to be honest, the reaction we got from everyone has been nothing but supportive. Not every regional centre is fortunate enough to have a racing club … we want it to prosper and flourish.”
Four senior jockeys inspected the track on November 28, giving it their tick of approval. Mr Kendell said the “glowing appraisal” meant the club was on track to host Sunday’s cup.
“Everything is ready for the cup and, most importantly, the track is on track,” he said.
Sunday’s event includes live music, fashions on the field, children’s activities and a visit from Santa. Shuttle buses will run between Watton Street and the racecourse.
» countryracing.com.au/werribee-racing-club.html
