By Kath Gannaway
SPRING racing in the Yarra Valley saw a crowd of around 12,000 people attending Yarra Valley Racing’s Cup Day meeting and some big-hatted events catering for the ladies on Oaks Day.
YVR marketing manager Brian Moyle said it was the biggest crowd in recent years at Yarra Glen.
The eight-race harness meeting attracted entries from around Victoria with Lara-trained Perfect Portrait, driven by Chris Alford taking out the main race of the day, the $5000 SEW Eurodrive Gold Cup.
With two super-sized screens, crowds on the lawn and in the stands had the opportunity to ride Shocking home in the Melbourne Cup.
Among highlights off the track were the outstanding field in the fashion stakes – 101 entries in the ladies’ section and, in a Yarra Valley first, 28 entries in the inaugural Men’s Fashions on the Field.
Oaks Day was all about the ladies.
Outlook Hill Restaurant and Winery in Yarra Glen hosted an Oaks Day luncheon with ladies from around Melbourne and the Yarra Valley enjoying the picturesque outlook with lots of fun into the bargain. Fashions on the field became fashion among the vines, showing off some stunning outfits.
At the Home Hotel in Launching Place, 46 ladies from The Red Hat Society enjoyed Oaks with a spectacular display of hats – red hats.
Yarra Valley Reds’ ‘Queen’ Jan Bettess said the society was a social group for women over 50.
She said Red Hat groups from Healesville, Yarra Junction, Bayswater, Williamstown and Geelong headed to Launching Place to enjoy a “brilliant” Oaks Day.
“It was fantastic,” Mrs Bettess said.
“It was most successful and made all the more successful because of the way we were treated, the staff were wonderful.”
