News

Pacing Cup set to shine

Thu, 07 Apr 2022 00:23:00

A sought-after school holidays fixture has cleared the way for Country Victoria’s only Pacing Cup Carnival to be at its brilliant and fun-loving best, with organisers confident some of the best and biggest stables will be lured north to Mildura this year.

The TASCO Petroleum Mildura Pacing Cup narrowly dodged the 2021 COVID-19 impacts, but with the uncertainty of the past 12 months, organisers are relieved it’s now all systems go, with dining and marquee tickets now on sale for the stellar, three-day event.
Mildura Harness Racing Club Chief Executive Officer Michelle McGinty said she had no doubt that the community, punters and industry participants will be “ready to play” with the three-day carnival coming off the back of Easter and wrapping up the school holidays.
“We’re so excited to be back up and running at full steam and without the uncertainty this year and having the Pacing Cup final in that post Easter week is just a big bonus – there’s a huge buzz around already,” she said.
“It’s been a tough couple of years for so many industries, and harness racing hasn’t escaped that. We’ve been fortunate that we kept on racing right through COVID-19 – but we want to truly celebrate the crowds being back at our sports and our community events this year and we think the community is ready to have some fun back at the races.
“This carnival is an icon event in the sport. Having the chance to pull in the visitors that flock to Mildura for our great weather will mean the carnival will be in its full glory, and we’re absolutely thrilled.”
The Pacing Cup heats night will on Easter Tuesday April 19 (Heats Night), Friday April 22 (Trotters Cup Night) and Saturday April 23 (Pacing Cup Night).
“The evening activities vary, but they all include courses of Sunraysia’s Finest Produce, live entertainment by Paul Trevaskis or Nev N Toni, a selfie station to capture your cup week highlights and of course, all the action on the track,” McGinty said.
“We also have a free kids club happening on the Friday and Saturday, with face painting, movies, activity stations and more to keep the little ones occupied,” she said.
“The marquees are always a really popular choice, and the bookings start coming in for those as soon as they go on sale.”
The marquees seat 10-40 people in courtyard areas, bar and entertainment, with punters having the option to choose from a private entertainer package, or with an all-inclusive enclosure marquee with the convenience of beverages and food provided.
Ms McGinty said the event traditionally attracts some of the State’s most powerful stables, and said, if the early mail was correct, this year will be no exception.
“We’re thrilled to have new sponsors in Aaron Bain Racing for the Trotters’ Cup this year, and we expect that will generate even more interest from South Australia,” McGinty said.
“With all the travel restrictions now lifted, the opportunity to enjoy some of our fabulous Autumn weather and the school holidays is generating some interest from a lot of the usual stables who come up, but also some new ones,” she said.
“The big stables from down south are regulars at our carnival - $10,000 heats into a $60,000 Group Two final means the bigger teams generally target one or two of their topliners they believe will suit our style of racing.
“But it’s really the atmosphere and the fact that it’s a unique event that keeps people coming back each year. It’s a really popular event on the racing calendar, and the feedback every year is that the visitors love Mildura and everything it has to offer – including the country hospitality and Victoria’s finest, grass-roots racing.”
Tickets for the 2022 TASCO Petroleum Mildura Pacing Cup Carnival can be purchased at www.milduraharness.org.au or through www.trybooking.com.