By Marcus Uhe
Crowds once again flocked to the Cranbourne Turf Club on Saturday for the annual Ladbrokes Cranbourne Cup.
With no restrictions on attendance, 7000 punters lapped up the atmosphere, which included live music to go with the action on the track.
Turf Club CEO Neil Bainbridge said it was fantastic to see people back at the course once again.
“We’d like to see 7000 get to above 10,000 next year,” Mr Bainbridge said.
“We had a pretty tough spring, weather-wise. It was a nice day but in the lead-up, the weather impacted people’s habits and desires.
“For the cup meeting to be shown live on free-to-air on Seven is a terrific boost for us and the region.
“It’s such a significant day being the first Saturday after the Flemington carnival. We’re really confident this day will continue to grow.”
In what was a terrific day for the club, seven of the nine trainers were based at the track, which Mr Bainbridge believes showcases the strength of the facility.
A record prize pool of $1.7 million was on offer across the meet, including $500,000 for the cup itself.
But Mr Bainbridge already has his sights set on next year.
“The club will continue to contribute to prize money to lift the standard and elevate the races,” he said
“We have a strong aspiration that cup should be worth $1 million, that’s something we’ll continue to strive to achieve. The goal is to have it worth $1 million in 2023.”
Photographer ROB CAREW captured the vibe in the crowd.
