THE Saturday afternoon Ballarat Cup meeting is here to stay.
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While final 2015-16 race dates are not officially signed off by Racing Victoria until March, Ballarat
Turf Club’s biggest day has been locked into a Saturday timeslot for next year.
Racing Victoria’s board met on Thursday, where an initial draft of dates for next season was presented, and included Ballarat on November 21.
This follows the overwhelming success of the club’s inaugural Saturday Cup meeting last month, where figures revealed more than 10,000 people walked through the gates – an increase of almost 4000 patrons from the corresponding 2013 Sunday event.
Racing Victoria also detailed total wagering turnover during last month’s 10-race card was equal per starter to the meeting at Moonee Valley on the same day last year.
Racing Victoria executive general manager Greg Carpenter said Ballarat’s meeting had ticked boxes in areas of the quality of horse, trainer and jockey that supported the card, overall wagering outcomes and attendance.
“We believed it was a success in its first year and look to build on that initial success and see it being a permanent part of the racing calendar in Victoria going forward into the future,” Carpenter told The Courier.
Carpenter praised the BTC committee’s tireless efforts through a prolonged campaign to land a Saturday Ballarat Cup timeslot.
“It wasn’t a one-off submission that got immediate approval. They worked very hard over an extended period to make this happen and I think it was a great credit to them it was such a success,” he said.
BTC chief executive Lachlan McKenzie said the club was delighted to be able to start planning with certainty for the Ballarat Cup in 2015.
“(The date confirmation) is a great vote of confidence in the Ballarat Turf Club and makes all the hard work and effort worthwhile,” McKenzie said.
“Our successful inaugural Saturday Cup has been recognised by RVL and we will be determined to make it bigger and better to ensure we continue to improve.”
Last month’s Sportsbet Ballarat Cup meeting offered $1million in prizemoney and included support from the Ballarat Cricket Association, which fixtured the day off for all senior competitions.
tim.oconnor@fairfaxmedia.com.au