Racegoers will enjoy a Super Saturday at the Flemington Racecourse today for the 2017 Grazing Trail & Cellar Door race meeting.
The food and wine event forms part of the Super Saturday race meeting, which is being supported by a joint funding package of almost $440,000 from the Andrews Labor Government and the Victoria Racing Club.
As a prequel to the internationally renowned Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, racegoers will be treated to dozens of stalls of Victoria’s best boutique wineries, breweries and food producers.
Executive chef at Melbourne restaurants Tonka and Coda, Adam D’Sylva will provide cooking demonstrations where patrons can interact and ask questions before indulging in his signature dishes at a pop-up restaurant.
Families will be entertained with live music, roving musical performances by the Wacky Knife, Fork and Spoon Trio and a range of children’s activities will be on offer including face painting, pony rides, a petting zoo, mini golf, fun zones, and arts and crafts.
More than 24,000 people are expected to be trackside for autumn’s premier race day, with two Group 1 races including the $1.5 million TAB Australian Cup and the $1.25 million Lexus Newmarket Handicap.
The Labor Government is providing more than $118,000 towards the race meeting from the Victorian Racing Industry Fund Raceday Attraction Program, and the Victoria Racing Club is contributing more than $318,000.
Melbourne’s racing industry generates more than $1.5 billion for the Victorian economy and helps to sustain more than 13,590 full-time equivalent local jobs.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Racing Martin Pakula
“The Grazing Trail & Cellar Door event is a major drawcard for racegoers as the premier race day on the autumn racing calendar.”
“Racegoers will be spoilt for choice with some of Victoria’s best food and wine on offer, while enjoying a day of top quality thoroughbred racing.”
Quotes attributable to CEO Victoria Racing Club Simon Love
"The Flemington Grazing Trail & Cellar Door event puts Victoria’s best wineries, breweries and food producers on show, in a unique cellar door and market atmosphere.”
“It’s an amazing food and wine experience, set against the exhilarating backdrop of Super Saturday Group 1 thoroughbred racing.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020