The race day – which has been held in early December for the past four years – is not part of Racing Victoria’s draft dates for the 2015-16 season.

If formally adopted by the Racing Victoria board, the calendar will see the club cut to just two meetings next season.

Avoca Shire Turf Club manager Kate Kirkpatrick said a submission aimed at maintaining the meeting had been sent to Racing Victoria, which will make a decision on final race dates before releasing them in March.

“We would like the opportunity to host for the fifth year,” Kirkpatrick said.

“(The racecourse) is certainly set up for racing more than twice and the infrastructure will sit there not being used, essentially.”

Kirkpatrick said the club has based sponsorship and membership packages around a three-meeting season, which benefits many local community groups through the income gathered at those race days.

If not granted the December meeting for 2015, Kirkpatrick said the club would still like to win it back in coming years.

“That would be a good result if that’s the case. Ideally we wouldn’t like to lose momentum, that’s the only issue,” she said.

The proposal is linked to the new Pakenham racecourse, which has 16 Thursday night meetings – nine on turf and seven on synthetic – programmed between January and May next year.

Racing Victoria executive general manager of infrastructure and club support Jamie McGuiness said it had been determined that the overall number of race meetings should remain at the current level across the next three seasons and opportunities to present more country night racing should be explored.

“As a result, some clubs are proposed to run slightly less meetings across the next three years,” McGuiness said.

“This includes Avoca, which has had one of its race days earmarked for relocation.”

McGuiness said determining the number of race meetings for each season and volume of racing at each track meant considering factors such as the static horse population, industry race day operating costs and wagering performance.

“The proposed race dates see Avoca retain two major event days,

including the very successful Avoca Cup meeting, and Racing Victoria and Country Racing Victoria will work with the club to continue to grow these two race meetings,” he said.

McGuiness said Racing Victoria would like to explore the potential for Avoca to provide jump outs and track gallops for trainers in the region.

tim.oconnor@fairfaxmedia.com.au