MV On Track 2018

ON TRACK MAGAZINE 5 CHAIRMAN’S REPORT It is hard to imagine that 12 months on from a record-breaking Ladbrokes Cox Plate Carnival we are on the brink of celebrating an even bigger Spring Racing Carnival at The Valley. If you were to let your mind wander to October 28 last year, you’ll recall a sea of blue and white adorn the grandstands and an electrifying atmosphere that only our amphitheatre style racecourse can deliver. How privileged we are to be witnessing this golden era. If Winx makes it to The Valley on the last Saturday in October, she will be the only horse to have ever attempted four wins in Australasia’s Weight-for-Age Championship. If she once again conquers The Valley’s signature race, it will be a first in Australian sport. 2018 brings with it more anticipation and a new set of challengers. The MVRC was delighted to announce in June that the Ladbrokes Cox Plate prizemoney would be $5 million. With such an incentive comes the world’s best weight-for-age champions and we are delighted that Benbatl, from the powerful Godolphin stable, has accepted the Club’s invitation to travel down under. Should he run in the Ladbrokes Cox Plate he will be the second highest rated horse to ever travel to Australia. With a total of 26 internationals amongst the first nominations for the Ladbrokes Cox Plate, together with the best of local talent, the race’s reputation as ‘the best two minutes in sport’ is on track to deliver once again. The Ladbrokes Cox Plate is the pinnacle of 24 hours of unmissable sport and year after year the Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes continues to deliver a fascinating spectacle as Australia’s richest race under lights. With the biggest crowd ever recorded in 2017 I have no doubt 2018 promises to again provide plenty of highlights as 2017 conqueror Hey Doc returns to defend his title. It’s one of the feature nights on the 2018/19 Ladbrokes Friday Night Lights calendar which commences on September 28 for the Group 1 Charter Keck Cramer Moir Stakes – the first of 17 meetings under lights. As excited as we are about the upcoming Spring Racing Carnival, the Club is also making huge strides in delivering on our world-class redevelopment - The Valley of Tomorrow. Late last year the MVRC was delighted to appoint Hostplus and Hamton as our development partners and Cox Architecture to design our new grandstand that will no doubt become an iconic landmark in Melbourne. Finally we are also pleased to see a number of our long standing Corporate Partners return to the Club this season, and along with some new partners we look forward to delivering additional benefits for you to enjoy as a valued member. I look forward to welcoming you to The Valley this season. Let’s Celebrate! Don Casboult Chairman Moonee Valley Racing Club