By KATH GANNAWAY
RACEGOERS at Healesville Picnic Races on Saturday couldn’t get enough of the country race day fun.
With plenty of daylight left after the last race, they moved to the dance floor.
Grooving to a mix that included Paul Kelly, Johnny Cash, Credence and crowd favourites such as Brown-Eyed Girl and Pretty Woman, the crowd pushed the band, David Ricciuti and daughter Rachel from Silvan and Warburton ex-pat Dave Walker, to four encores before they were reluctantly allowed to pull the plug.
Upward of 4000 people came from all around Victoria for second of the six-race season.
Fine weather, strong fields and great entertainment combined to provide the perfect setting for groups celebrating everything from birthdays and buck’s days to netball end-of-season celebrations.
The social aspect was something Mark and Tracey Brennan from the Mallee said was a winner for them as first-time racegoers.
Ferntree Gully ‘buck’ Ryan Howard (who would have been a strong contender for Fashions on the Field had there been one) went on recommendations from friends in choosing Healesville for his buck’s day. “We wanted a country race meeting and it had been a fantastic, day,” he said.
Mason Byrne and sister Emma, also from Ferntree Gully, came away winners with an armful of soft toys from the Healeville Lions lucky number tent.
“We love Healesville,” said their mum Zivanka. “My husband is a bookmaker here and we love that it’s such a family and community fun day.”
The Shepparton Bears netballers, made a weekend of it staying two nights in the town and adding to the tourist dollar.
Healesville Amateur Racing Club committee members were also happy – a big, well-behaved crowd and a cloudless sky put smiles on their faces.
And, with marquee packages fully booked for the next two meetings – 13 December and Cup Day on 10 January, they are looking forward to continuing a successful season.
The final meetings are on 31 January and 28 March.
