3 minute read
The curtain officially raises on the 2019 Festival of Racing this week.
The Valley hosts its fourth annual Chinese New Year Race Night on Friday night (8 February), before the Group 1 action gets underway the following day at Caulfield on C.F. Orr Stakes Family Day.
The following media activities will take place to mark the start of the Festival of Racing, which features nine Group 1 races and offers more than $38 million in prizemoney across six weeks of elite equine action on the track, and first-class food, relaxed fashion and family-friendly entertainment off it.
• Tuesday, 5 February, 11.45am: In the heart of Melbourne’s Chinatown, the Moonee Valley Racing Club (MVRC) and special guests will preview what racegoers can expect at The Valley on Friday night, as well as announcing leading energy retailer Alinta Energy as the exclusive partner of the MVRC’s Chinese New Year race meeting for the next three years.
• Tuesday, 5 February: Vision from this morning's jump outs and track gallops at Caulfield, featuring several leading Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes contenders, is available via the MRC website here
• Wednesday, 6 February, 9.30am: Field finalised for the Ladbrokes C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m), the first Group 1 of the 2019 Festival of Racing at Caulfield on Saturday, 9 February. For all the historical facts and figures on the C.F. Orr Stakes, which was first run in 1925, click here
• Thursday, 7 February, 12-3pm: Festival of Racing media luncheon (invitation only) at Siglo, featuring James Cummings, Damien Oliver and Jamie Kah.
• Friday, 8 February, time TBC: Stable media call with leading C.F. Orr Stakes runner and trainer.
• Friday, 8 February, first race 6.30pm: Chinese New Year Race Night at The Valley, featuring Heat 12 of the Ladbrokes 55 Second Challenge and the Alinta Energy Chinese New Year Cup.
• Saturday, 9 February: C.F. Orr Stakes Family Day at Caulfield, a nine-race, family-friendly meeting highlighted by the $500,000 Ladbrokes C.F. Orr Stakes, which was won last year by Hartnell (trained by James Cummings, ridden by Craig Williams).
• Saturday, 9 February: Alex Scott & Staff Woolamai Cup Day.
• Sunday, 10 February: Australian Lamb Company Group Colac Gold Cup Day. The Colac Gold Cup is run over 2000m, and worth $70,000. Highlights on the day will include free Kelly Sports activities, kids’ backpacks, Chris Humfrey and the Wild Action Zoo, Fashions on the Field and the Off The Bench Marquee.
