By Brendan Rees
A glamour crowd braved torrential rain as Cranbourne Racecourse hosted its second race meeting on Melbourne Cup Day.
Despite the wash-out on Tuesday 6 November, the sun poked through the clouds just in time for the big race where all eyes turned to the big screen on track.
Seven races were held at Cranbourne which was the first event to be alleviated as a TAB meeting.
Racegoers were keen to soak up the atmosphere on the lawn where the champagne flowed. Fun also included face-painting and jumping on the carnival rides for the kids, while punters combed through the from-guide meticulously to find a winner.
On lucky Cranbourne man backed Cross Counter – the winner of the Melbourne Cup.
“Twenty-three is my number,” Dale McCleary said. “I don’t know it just looked like a good horse, low weight, good form and my number.”
Mr McCleary said he would get up to $700 for the win: “I’m wrapped with that, one way to end the day. I might not go to work tomorrow…straight to Crown I think,” he added.
Terri McCubbin, who travelled from the Northern Territory also celebrated a big win on the Cup with her sister, Jude de LaCruz.
“We got the trifecta,” she said. After picking some random numbers, Ms McCubbin added it was “totally unexpected.”
“We had a great time at the Cranbourne Races.”
Cranbourne Turf Club chief executive Nail Bainbridge said the club was “pretty disappointed” with the weather.
“Obviously the weather deterred quite a few people from coming out to Cranbourne on Melbourne Cup Day,” he said. “To cop what we copped this morning…so disappointing.”
“Otherwise, full inside, we were all pre-booked with our packages inside which is good.”
“We look forward to doing it again next year – the weather can’t be that bad two years in a row,” he added.
Mr Bainbridge said it was all “full steam ahead” for the Tri-Codes event on Saturday 17 November where thoroughbred, harness and greyhound racing come together for one ultimate night of non-stop racing action.
The first annual Heat Beads Barbecue Turf Wars was also held where 40 food vendors vied for their share of $15,000 in cash and prizes for the best cooked barbecues.
