The Valley - Saturday 28th November 2020

1 Today, the Moonee Valley Racing Club pays tribute to two great contributors of our Club in Norman Carlyon and Mitchell McKenzie, as a day fixture returns to The Valley for the first time since Ladbrokes Cox Plate Day. This is fitting given that under Carlyon’s leadership, the Club partnered with the World Racing Championship Series and was the beginning of the internationalism of our LEGENDARY race. Carlyon was elected to the Committee of the Moonee Valley Racing Club in 1977 and served as Chairman from 1989 until his retirement in 1997. Mitchell McKenzie served on the Club Committee from 1968 to 1987 and was elected a Life Member of the Club in 1987 and is honoured today with the McMahon Dairy McKenzie Stakes. The racing industry sadly lost a great contributor this week with the passing of Jim Marconi. Jim trained the 1988 Manikato Strakes winner Rancho Ruler and was a part-owner of Taras Bulba who was runner-up in the 1974 W.S. Cox Plate. Our thoughts are with Jim’s family during this time. Last Friday night, The Valley played host to a select group of owners and will again today. This is an important step in welcoming back our members which will hopefully be achieved throughout the month of December. While the finer details on this blueprint are still being finalized, rest assured we are working hard to open the gates to our valued members who have been a great support this year to us more than ever. You will have seen this week the announcement of race dates for the second half of the 2020/21 racing season. The Valley will host nine meetings between January and July. Our key dates include the All-Star Mile being conducted on Saturday 13 March and the Night Racing Season Finale featuring the Group 1 Keogh Homes William Reid Stakes on Friday 19 March. Best of luck to those with a runner today and from those watching on from home, I hope you back a winner. CHAIRMAN’S WELCOME Don Casboult Chairman