Search

show me:

CASTERTON: Jumping The Hedges A Special Spectacle

3 minute read

Sunday’s Casterton Cup meeting will be a unique event as the Casterton Racing Club is the only Victorian race club to stage jumps races over the traditional live hedges.

Punters will see the great spectacle twice on Sunday.

The $30,000 Open Steeplechase (3800m), a Casteron Cup day staple, has attracted a quality line-up of jumpers including last-start Mt Gambier winners Half Moon Rising and Rabukka as well as the Fran

Houlahan and Brian Johnston-trained Gravitas, a narrow runner-up in Wednesday’s Great Southern Steeplechase at Sandown.

Casterton Racing Club manager Juliann Jordan said that while the $25,000 Casteron Cup is the nominal highlight the jumps racing added another dimension to Sunday's program.

Watching horses soar over the live hedges is something now rarely seen on Australian tracks and the riders contesting the races love the novelty.

“We still have our Steeplechase over the live hedges and the jumps jockeys definitely love it,” Jordan said.

“The hedge jumps are 150 years old from what I’ve been informed and they look as beautiful as ever.

“The Cup is an exhilarating race and the crowd love coming and watching but you do get another aspect of people who love their jumps racing as well.

“It just adds another aspect for patrons who come through the gates.”


Racing and Sports

Think. Is this a bet you really want to place?

For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit www.gamblinghelponline.org.au