Punters have a field day

By Kath Gannaway
LOCAL punters were on a winning streak as Spring Racing got underway at Yarra Glen on Saturday.
In the first race of the day Lod Aban, trained at Yarra Glen by Kevan Wacey, finished in the prizemoney. coming third.
Another windfall for the ‘locals’ came in the lead-up to Yarra Valley Racing’s first event for the 2006/07 season with the announcement on Friday by John Pandazopoulos, Minister for Racing, of a $200,000 grant to develop a master plan for the venue.
A further grant of $700,000 for water-saving improvements to the track’s drainage and irrigation system was also announced.
Brett Shambrook, Yarra Valley Racing CEO, said the season had undoubtedly started on a high, with the only disappointment being the bitterly cold weather which kept the crowd for the Minter Ellison Food and Wine Race Day down to just over 5000.
With snow at Kinglake and Mt Dandenong the chill factor took its toll.
Numbers were up, however, on last year and Mr Shambrook said for those who braved the weather, the day which combined thoroughbred racing with the very best of the valley’s food and wine, was a great success.
“We set a goal six months ago that we wanted to incorporate all Yarra Valley food and wines and that’s what we have done.
“The on course turnover, and off course turnover, were all up on last year so, if we had struck it for some good weather it would have been even better.”
Mr Shambrook said on Monday preparation had already started on for the Melbourne Cup Day meeting – YVR’s biggest meeting for the year.
“It’s very much a family day where we encourage people to come along and picnic on the lawns, enjoy the live music and the free children’s entertainment,” Mr Shambrook said.
A big screen on track means no one misses out on all the action at that other Cup Day meeting!
In other Spring racing, Healesville Amateur Racing Club will hold its first picnic meeting for the season this Saturday, 4 November.