Bill West
Everything is in readiness for the time-honoured New Year’s Day race meeting at Hanging Rock tomorrow.
Kyneton and Hanging Rock Racing Club will stage a six-event meeting, with the first race at 1.40pm.
While the popular mini-marquees have sold out, general admission tickets are available online or at the gate on Sunday from 11am.
A shuttle bus service will run from Woodend Railway Station to the Rock from 10.45am to 1pm, and the return service begins at 4pm. Cost is $5 per return.
“Ticket sales have been going really well and we are on track to have a great crowd and terrific atmosphere,” the club’s events manager Lisa Evans said earlier this week.
Many regular attendees have been coming to ‘The Rock’ on January 1 for years, and there are expected to be plenty of newcomers who just want to experience a big social day out as well during the festive season.
Hats and sunscreen may well be a priority if the advance weather forecast is accurate.
There’s free entry for children, who will be able to access free supervised Kelly Sports activities, as well as be in the running for free sporting merchandise.
In addition to entertainment for the kids, there’s something on the program for racegoers of all ages, including live music, the Punters’ Club, and food trucks.
Hanging Rock is one of 29 country race meetings being promoted between Boxing Day and Australia Day.
WINNER AT NHILL
Kyneton trainer Charles Cassar and an enthusiastic group of owners will be hoping that Daniyah can follow up her win at Nhill Cup Day on Boxing Day with a repeat performance at Hanging Rock on Sunday.
At Nhill, the five-year-old mare finished strongly to win over 1000 metres, starting as a $5 chance and notching up her third race win at her 22nd start.
Daniyah is in race 4, the Miranda Park Stan Nicholls Sprint over 1000m on Sunday. Cassar has enjoyed previous success at the track.
The first race on Sunday is the Carlton Draught Maiden Plate over 1800m, to be followed by the Midland Express BM52 Handicap, the Cams Security Maiden Plate, the Miranda Park Stan Nicholls Sprint, Tony McMahon BM58 Handicap over 2400m, with the Bet365 Bruce Jones Memorial BM58 Handicap the final race on the program.
