AN ESTIMATED crowd of 1800 people went trackside at Healesville on Saturday for the Healesville Amateur Racing Club’s first race of the season and its first Derby Day meeting.
The enormous effort put in by committee and club members in the lead-up to the season paid off with the course living up to its reputation as one of the most picturesque picnic racing venues in Victoria and a track rated as good on the day.
HARC treasurer Pat Lalor said the committee was very pleased with the day.
“The gate was good, takings were good, the Tote turnover was good and while the fields were small, the racing was also very good.”
With last year’s run of bad weather, including a washout of the opening meeting, Mr Lalor added with a hint of relief, “And, the weather was kind to us.”
Weather has always been a concern with scheduling a Derby Day race into the program and while there is some benefit in capitalising on the overall spring racing atmosphere, Mr Lalor said its place in future programs was not guaranteed.
“We got away with it this time, but we will need to discuss further what we do next year,” he said.
Bookings for marquees and parties are steady for the next two meetings, 26 November and 11 December.
