THE cluBarham Kerang Cup is where all the big names gather.
Because it’s the Cup everyone wants to win.
Including dual Melbourne Cup trainer Sheila Laxon, whose horse Mr Xen took out the 2007 race.
Or in 2024 when the powerful Corstens stable came to town and took the Cup home with Look Sharpish.
On April 19, the Cup will be raced for the 144th time and the big guns will be lining up again for $30,000 – and the glory.
Club president Colleen Shay said the meeting is also celebrating its 19th year with cluBarham as the major sponsor, which she says is the cornerstone of the
Cup Carnival’s success.
“Without this kind of community commitment by a business as supportive as cluBarham and chief executive Jason Wallace and his team it would make things that much tougher,” Ms Shay said.
“But they have been a fantastic support for us, and it is because of people and companies like this that we have been able to keep our Cup going for all these years.”
In recent years, many country cups have been plagued by unseasonal downpours – at Kerang it forced the 2020 meeting to be abandoned – but this year everything is looking picture perfect.
Ms Shay said track manager Greg McNeil and his team have the course in “tip-top condition” and new committee member Tony Newstead has been a huge help with setting up the track surrounds.
“This year we have a seven-race card, but we are still waiting for final acceptances to see if there will be enough for us to stretch that out to eight races, which would also be good for everyone coming along on the day,” she said.
“We are expecting this to be a fabulous Easter event and our focus at Kerang Turf Club is to make the cup day a genuinely family-friendly setting for everyone to enjoy.
“That includes Kelly Sports providing supervised activities for the children, there will be face painting, and it wouldn’t be an Easter event without an Easter egg hunt and we will have one of those as well – but only for the children.”
Another highlight will be the Pan Pacific Fashions on the Field, with classes for all ages and genders.
And live music with Jade Camden will be going throughout the day to keep patrons entertained.
Ms Shay said the club is also putting on shuttle buses to get people to and from the track
Bus 1 leaves Bort at noon and picks up at Lake Meram at 12.15pm. Bus 2 leaves the 3SH car park at Swan Hill at 11.30am, picks up at Kangaroo Lake at 11.55am and Lake Charm at 12.05pm. Bus 3 does Barham and Koondrook and anyone wanting this service should call Lakes on 5453 2097.
Kerang Turf Club members receive a free drink voucher on entry and will go into the draw for a $100 betting voucher, and any patron booking tickets online will receive a $10 food voucher for selected vendors on the day.
Book your tickets at country.racing.com/kerang/calendar/kerang-cup.
