THE sesquicentenary of the Murray Downs Golf and Country Club Swan Hill June Racing Carnival is expected to draw a bumper crowd over the next three days.
More than 10,000 people are expected through the gates as Murray Mallee Racing prepares for its showpiece event.
Today is the Pooles Accountants Golden Topaz, with the Swan Hill Bus Lines Family Fun Day tomorrow and the Murray Downs Swan Hill Cup Day on Sunday.
The third day is the key day of the carnival, with up to 5000 people expected to squeeze into the racecourse.
MMR’s Sheree Watson said this weekend was “set to be massive”.
“With record attendances for three years running, and having won the Country Racing Victoria Event of the Year last year, the weekend will be a big one for Swan Hill and the surrounding region,” she said.
An eight-race program today features the $100,000 Pooles Accountants Golden Topaz and the Betfair Vobis Gold Elvstroem Classic, which carries up to $160,000 in prize money.
Day 2 features seven races, with action from Moonee Valley, Doomben, Randwick and other meets also being broadcast on-course.
But the big one is on Sunday, with the running of the 150th Murray Downs Swan Hill Cup.
There’ll be plenty of on-course entertainment with Snake and Rooster Band and Mildura’s X-Factor contender Todd Griffiths both playing during the day.
In the evening, the JH Duo will play upstairs while DJ Tom will play downstairs.
Participants in Fashions on the Field must enter by 1pm.
Judges include Country Racing Victoria fashion ambassador Bree Laughlin, 2014 carnival ambassador Courtney McClelland.
