It will be history in the making tonight when harness and thoroughbred racing join forces for the first ever Dual Code Cup race meeting at Cranbourne.
The Andrews Labor Government is providing more than $43,000 to support the event, courtesy of the Victorian Racing Industry Fund Raceday Attraction Program.
The Cranbourne Turf Club is also contributing more than $43,000 for the race meeting, which will see the TAB Cranbourne Cup and the Group 2 Decron Cranbourne Pacing Cup held as part of the same event.
The Cranbourne Racing Centre is also set to receive more than $110,000 for two infrastructure projects, including an upgrade to the winning post and the replacement of floodlights.
The new hydraulic winning post for the Cranbourne Turf Club will feature an LED super screen one each shoulder of the post, a permanent sign board, and a strengthened structure and footings to protect against windy conditions.
The floodlight project for the Cranbourne Harness Racing Club will see 33 new floodlights replaced to improve lighting on the harness track, with many of the current units having been installed more than 20 years ago.
The Cranbourne Cup is part of Country Racing Victoria’s Relax at the Country Races Campaign, which covers 42 weekend and feature race meetings across regional Victoria between February and April 2017.
The Group 2 Cranbourne Pacing Cup is one of the top country cup meetings in Victoria and forms part of Harness Racing Victoria’s Country Cups Carnival covering 25 Cup meetings from October 2016 to April 2017.
The racing industry in the outer Melbourne region generates more than $375 million for the Victorian economy and helps sustain over 3720 full-time equivalent jobs in the region.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Racing Martin Pakula
“This event is the first of its kind and is set to showcase the very best of harness and thoroughbred racing at a single racing meeting.”
“The winning post and floodlight upgrade will ensure that the Cranbourne racecourse continues to a premier racing venue in Victoria.”
Quote attributable to Member for Cranbourne Jude Perera
“We’re proud to be supporting the Dual Code Cup, which brings people to Cranbourne, supports jobs and provides a great night out for the community.”
Quote attributable to Cranbourne Turf Club and Cranbourne Harness Racing Club CEO Neil Bainbridge
“We are grateful to the Victorian Government for its support for our Dual Code Cup race meeting, which promises to be an exciting night of racing at Australia’s busiest racing centre.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020