VRC Summer Fun Race Day will commence with Race 1 at 10:30am and conclude with Race 9 at 2:53pm due to the forecast warm weather.
VRC Members and ticket holders can still enjoy a full day at Flemington:
▪ Gates open at 9:30am
▪ Public bars will be open until 3:00pm
▪ Members areas will be open until 4:30pm
▪ The Roof Garden, The Terrace and Chairman’s Club will remain open until 5:30pm
Dress Regulations
Member dress regulations have also been revised to cater for the weather conditions, with a jacket and tie optional in member’s areas on Saturday. This decision has been made with the comfort of members in mind this Saturday, given the extreme weather conditions and is not a change in dress code policy.
Horse Safety
To keep horses and participants comfortable, misting fans will spray cold water from the float car park, through the pre-parade ring and into the entrance of the Mounting Yard.
Extra attendants will be in place around the Mounting Yard to assist with hosing or sponging horses with cool water after each race.
The Racing
The Standish Handicap is the highlight on the nine-race card where evergreen galloper Halvorsen, trained by Robbie Griffiths and Mathew de Kock, will be aiming to win the race for a third time and become the only horse to do so in the 139-year history of the race.
The $250,000 race is the third leg of the $1 million Summer Sprint Series and sees the winner gain an automatic start in Australia’s most historic sprint, the $1.5 million Group 1 Yulong Stud Newmarket Handicap (1200m), held on Super Saturday at Flemington, Saturday 11 March.
Other highlights on the card include the VRC Summer Fun Sprint (1100m) for two-year-olds and the Vale Sir Patrick Hogan KNZM CBE (2000m).
In Memory
The VRC will honour the late influential and respected breeder Sir Patrick Hogan by naming a race in his memory, the Vale Sir Patrick Hogan KNZM CBE. During his highly esteemed career at the helm of New Zealand’s Cambridge Stud, Sir Patrick was responsible for breeding seven Melbourne Cup winners and leaves behind an incredible legacy at Flemington.
Fun for everyone
The Flemington Family Lawn will be the perfect spot for families to enjoy the day, with the Kids’ Summer Camp set to host a variety of supervised activities for kids including arts and crafts, ball games and pony rides. Parents and guardians of children under the age of 12 can sign up to the Phar Lap Club prior to race day or on the day for free.
Racegoers will be able to relax on The Front Lawn and enjoy the best of summer racing at Flemington, with live entertainment, quality food options and a Pimm’s pop-up bar serving refreshing beverages.
People can also take advantage of $5 fries and $5 large beef pies in Saintly Place Sports Bar and try their hand at a game of pool or darts while enjoying all the racing action at Flemington and across the country.
VRC Chief Executive Officer Steve Rosich said this Saturday was a good opportunity to bring the whole family to Flemington during the school holidays.
“If you are looking for some family-friendly fun during the school holidays, VRC Summer Fun Race Day offers hours of entertainment, from front lawn games under the shade to getting up close and personal with our equine athletes at the horse stalls"
“The race day will also feature the running of the Standish Handicap, which holds a special place in Flemington’s history and offers entry into the Yulong Stud Newmarket Handicap in March as part of the Flemington Racing Spectacular.”
Racegoers can purchase tickets at Ticketmaster with prices starting at just $20 per person. Children under 12 and accompanied by an adult are admitted free to Flemington all year round.
Summer racing continues at Flemington with Resimax Group Rapid Racing Race Day on Friday 20 January, and Black Caviar Lightning Stakes Race Day on Saturday 18 February.
