Roll up, roll up for the three legged races!

By Glen Atwell
TWENTY three races, three codes, one day.
Tricodes Day 2008 is set to roar into action at the Cranbourne Racing Complex on Sunday 16 March and promises to be the biggest and best meeting in the event’s eight-year history.
Racing, pacing and chasing will keep racegoers on the edge of their seats with a thoroughbred, harness and greyhound race starting every 15 minutes.
Seven harness, eight greyhound and eight thoroughbred races will bring out the stars of the local stables and also keep budding punters busy with the form.
Cranbourne Turf Club chief executive Neil Bainbridge said Tricodes Day was a great benefit to each of the three racing codes.
“It gives avid greyhound fans a chance to see harness and thoroughbred racing, and vice versa,” he said. “In terms of spreading the Cranbourne brand, every Tricodes race will be broadcast across Australia on Sky Channel, so whether you’re a punter in Gosford or Noosa, everyone can be swept up in the excitement of the day.”
Mr Bainbridge said outstanding cooperation between the three codes was crucial to the success of the annual event.
“From a logistical point of view, it’s a tough day to pull together,” he said. “Tricodes Day is the busiest race day in Australia, 23 races in five hours, so cooperation and understanding between the three clubs is paramount to its success.
“Horses need to be in the mounting yard at the right time, each race needs to start on time and then we have to allow for any pre-race delays. Those are just a few of the challenges.”
Racing is a thriving industry in Cranbourne and Mr Bainbridge believes Tricodes Day reflects its importance.
“Tricodes Day is a celebration of what is great about the Cranbourne Racing Complex,” he said.
“To get 5000 or 6000 people enjoying something so important to Cranbourne really makes all the preparation worthwhile.”
City of Casey mayor Janet Halsall was thrilled with the growth of Tricodes since its inception seven years ago and encouraged residents and visitors to participate in the event, which has become a tradition in Casey.
“The City of Casey Tricodes Day showcases one of the few racecourses in the world that accommodates the three codes of racing – gallops, harness and greyhounds. The popularity and importance of our local racing industry is highlighted on this great day, particularly in terms of the advantages the Cranbourne area receives through economic and tourism benefits,” she said.
Cr Halsall said the City of Casey was home to some of the best sports and leisure facilities in the state, including Casey Fields, and the racing facilities were second to none.
“Casey Fields has become extremely popular with approximately 6000 visitors each week and when you add our magnificent racing facilities to that, I think it’s fair to say that we are the sporting capital of the south-east,” she said.
Cr Halsall said that, as well as the 23 races, there will be a range of children’s activities and food stalls with something for all the family.
She acknowledged the efforts of the three codes in their joint organisation of the event, particularly Mr Bainbridge, harness club chief executive David Scott and greyhound chief executive Tony Wright.