Picnic Races: Alexandra Cup Day

Well they reckon there’s a first time for everything, this was our first time on track at Alexandra. We have often attended picnic races at Yea, being members, but never got as far as Alexandra  It is a pretty town circa 130K’s  North of Melbourne.

It was a pleasant drive there. We popped into Yea for a yummy brunch at Gallery 34; highly recommended, good service, great tucker, but be aware of the wasps. Next off was Yarck, famous for the bumper sticker ‘Where the Farck is Yarck’. Nice watering hole there, very pleasant. From there Alexandra , on Cup Day, beckoned.

With the original forecast being 34,  hot and sunny, we ‘d been warned of  a lack of shade, certainly in comparision to Yea which has a good natural canopy of trees, with extra shading being installed  there in the last few months. As it was the day was cloudy and overcast, no sun being seen until late in the day. We looked forward to  a good day of racing, having  a 6  race card with good size fields,  as small fields can occasionally be a dilema at the picnic circuit.  As it turned out a few late scratchings meant only half  of the races had enough starters for a third dividend to be paid.  The main event was the fifth, the Blackmore Wagyu Beef Alexandra Cup, run over just under 8 furlongs: 1540 metres. The race had been won in 2014 by Minou trained by Gordon Strang in Seymour, ridden by Courtney Pace.  None of those three names featured in the 2015 Cup race. Immortal Fire trained by Trevor Rogers in Cranbourne, ridden by Danni Walker, won in impressive style. Congratulations to all connections.

A good size crowd enjoyed the meeting. A number of notables were in attendance. The local federal member, Cathy McGowan, the independent from Indi was out and about. Also the state racing minister Martin Pakula  was there. I decided not to earbash him re what is being/not being done re the greyhound controversy, leaving him to enjoy a pleasant day on track.

The picnic season is drawing to a close. Alexandra and Yea won’t race again until later on in 2015.  There are 6 more race meetings left in this picnic season including the Cup meetings in Omeo and Tambo Valley. Do yourselves a favour, pop along to the picnics. It’s great day out.

On a separate note good seeing Riziz back running in Adelaide, with a nice first up win. We’ll be in Corowa next weekend for the Cup. Watch this space.

Glen!

Comments

  1. Luke Reynolds says

    Glen, always enjoy your picnic race tales.
    That’s a brilliant bumper sticker!

  2. Ta Luke. Yes my car now has one of those stickers. It’s a pub we highly recommend, after our 35 minute visit. Put it on your bucket list.

    Glen!

  3. Haven’t been to the Alex races for years. From memory there was only an outside rail for thee last furlong or so…reckon one ran off in to the carpark when we were there. Caulfield Cup eas always their biggest meeting.
    spent one freezing night at a buck’s dBrien’s Mt Pleasant Hotel. There was always a good restaurant at Yarck but rarely a driver willing to sacrifice the festivities.
    The Tambo Valley meeting is one I’ve never gotten to – maybe, maybe…

  4. When are you border hopping to SA Glen?
    Great report

  5. G’day Oges, i won’t dare say how long it’s been since i’ve been to SA. Too long! Naraccote is a track i’m interested in but the next race meeting i’m off to is Corowa, in NSW.

    Glen!

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