The final Flemington meeting on the 2022/23 racing calendar will feature The Byerley Handicap (1800m), a coveted race for owners and trainers who are seeking ballot exempt status into three-year-old classics, the Group 1 Penfolds Victoria Derby and/or the Group 1 Kennedy Oaks.
One duo who are dreaming of Cup Week are Flemington trainers Leon and Troy Corstens with Listed Schweppes Taj Rossi Series Final winner Dolphin Skin to be ridden by Kiwi young gun Wiremu Pinn in The Byerley Handicap.
The race day will also see the running of the Deane Lester Flemington Cup (2800m) – which was renamed this year in honour of much-loved racing broadcaster and analyst Deane Lester. First run in 1849, the Flemington Cup was returned to the racing program in 2020 after Lester approached the VRC with the idea to uphold a part of racing history.
Race 3 on the card, the RMBL Investments Rising Stars Final (1600m) will see the state's top apprentices go head-to-head in the series finale at Flemington. Budding star Celine Gaudray – who is also fighting out the 2023 Metropolitan Apprentice Jockey Title – currently leads the Rising Stars Series with Matthew Chadwick trailing by five points. Chadwick would need to at least finish in the top two to upstage Gaudray. Previous winners of this award include Lexus Melbourne Cup-winning jockeys Jye McNeil and Blake Shinn.
VRC Members can enjoy happy hour and a chance to win exclusive prizes just by attending the race day, as well as a party after the last as a token of appreciation to VRC Members for their ongoing support.
VRC Chief Executive Officer Steve Rosich emphasised the club’s gratitude to members for their support during the 2022/23 racing season.
“Our members have shown tremendous loyalty throughout the season which has catapulted the club to break its all-time membership record with more than 33,000,” Mr Rosich said.
“The club is looking forward to closing out a memorable season at Headquarters with our members, as we look ahead to the fast-approaching 2023/24 racing season, and the highly anticipated 2023 Melbourne Cup Carnival”.
The VRC Punters Club will be held in The Atrium for VRC Members and available from Saintly Place Sports Bar for public patrons. Proudly supported by TAB, the VRC Punters Club is open for registration before Race 3 on the day for only $10.
Popular Living Legends Bullish Luck and Prince of Penzance will be in the horse stalls throughout the day and parading in the Mounting Yard after races 2 and 4.
Gates open at 11:00 am with race 1 at 12:00 pm. General Admission tickets are $20 per person with children under 12 admitted free. For more ticketing information, please visit vrc.net.au.
Racing returns to Flemington on Saturday 5 August for VRC Season Premiere Race Day.
VRC Members Race Day Program
| RACE |
TIME |
NAME |
| 1 |
12:00pm |
VRC Member Annabel Cobain Sprint (1000m) |
| 2 |
12:35pm |
L.V Lachal Handicap (1700m) |
| 3 |
1:10pm |
RMBL Investments Rising Stars Final (1600m) |
| 4 |
1:45pm |
VRC Member Shane Murray Handicap (1400m) |
| 5 |
2:20pm |
Byerley Handicap (1800m) |
| 6 |
3:00pm |
Deane Lester Flemington Cup (2800m) |
| 7 |
3:40pm |
VRC Members Rebecca Sutherland Sprint (1200m) |
| 8 |
4:15pm |
VRC Member Clint Jellis Trophy (2000m) |
| 9 |
4:48pm |
Trevor Clarke Handicap (1000m) |
