Geelong will achieve a historic racing first in January next year after almost a decade of lobbying to Victoria’s peak body of the sport.
Group 1 racing at Doomben and Morphettville on Saturday, with an open field in the SA Derby.
The club will host its inaugural stand-alone Saturday metropolitan grade race meeting on January 6 next year, forming a key part of Racing Victoria’s 2023-24 program.
Its proud chief executive officer Luke Rayner said it was a major coup for the region –expecting a crowd of around 5000 at the track – after being a “strategic priority” for close to 10 years.
“It’s been probably the number one key item for our racing club for quite some time,” Rayner said.
“We’ve done a lot of detailed work over the past 12 months. A lot of lobbying and advocacy.”
Rayner said it would simply be the club’s biggest meet apart from the annual cup.
“It’s the premier Victorian race meeting on the day,” he said.
“I have a vision it will equal the Geelong Cup at some stage, in terms of popularity and attendance.
“In terms of the race program, it will be 100 per cent second to the Geelong Cup.
“Who knows, in time it may exceed (it).”
Geelong Racing Club chief executive officer Luke Ryaner is expecting around 5000 people for the January 6 meet. Picture: Alan Barber
However, he said the January meet would have a “completely different vibe” to the cup, which was more “corporate and business based”.
“This will be very much general public, family (friendly), relaxed,” he said.
“Wear your boardies, wear your summer dress, thongs.
“Just come in as if you’re on the beach but you happen to be at the track.”
Rayner said Andrew Jones and Matt Welsh being appointed Racing Victoria’s chief executive and general manager respectively had brought a “bit of a different look, a different lens” to the annual program and a greater emphasis on innovation.
“They’ve been super supporters of, I guess, change … new ways to do things,” Rayner said.
“They’re really keen on taking the product to the people, not necessarily asking the people come to the product.”
Rayner and track manager James Dalton in front of the new winning post at Geelong Racing Club. Picture: Alan Barber
He said Geelong hosting a meet in early January made perfect sense with the region traditionally “heaving” during the summer months.
However, he said the club would have to “activate the site like it’s never been activated before” for families and Melbourne day trippers, promising a “carnival, festival atmosphere”.
This could include children’s entertainment, live music and a farmers market.
Meanwhile, Welsh said the meet would maximise the influx of tourists to coastal towns around Geelong, including Torquay and the Bellarine Peninsula.
“Geelong is a superb racetrack that gives every horse its chance and on the back of a most successful 2022 Geelong Cup meeting we have great confidence they will deliver an outstanding meeting,” Welsh said.
Rayner said the appointment of Andrew Jones as Racing Victoria’s new chief executive in July, 2022 has been a key part of Geelong getting the opportunity. Picture: Suplied.
The club’s president Peter Murrihy said he could not be happier with the news.
“We have always held a strong desire to run a metropolitan grade meeting on a Saturday and to now finally achieve this and be the pre-eminent race meeting on this day is extremely satisfying,” Murrihy said.
The day’s program has yet to be confirmed with further announcements likely in coming weeks.
However, there is expected to be a black type race, benchmark racing and a community- focused race as a minimum.
Tickets can be booked at grc.com.cu or by calling 03 5229 4414.