Sport
11 September, 2023
Cup ready to thrill locals and tourists alike
It’s an exciting weekend coming up for the Maryborough Harness Racing Club (MHRC), with the first standalone running of the Maryborough Gold Cup set to be held this Sunday. The Cup was also given a new urgency two weeks ago, with a naming rights...
It’s an exciting weekend coming up for the Maryborough Harness Racing Club (MHRC), with the first standalone running of the Maryborough Gold Cup set to be held this Sunday.
The Cup was also given a new urgency two weeks ago, with a naming rights competition held for local businesses to earn potential selection as the naming rights partner for the Maryborough Trotting Cup.
Total Cool was eventually drawn as the winner of the competition, while there were 12 other winners for ‘Owner of the Day’ experiences.
MHRC general manager Jackson Barby expressed his excitement at a local business being able to earn the right to be a naming rights partner of a key race in their calendar.
“One of the key elements of our strategic plan is how we can give back to our business and community, helping the local tourism,” he said.
“Being able to keep jobs local, as well as future upgrades and projects, will have a local influence. As the profile of the Maryborough Cup grows, you’ll see it become a local-oriented event, and hopefully a community celebration as well.
“We were overwhelmed by the support for the promotion, and the generosity of the business community has been incredible.
“I think it’s part of the beauty of the promotion that we ran. Previously, businesses like Total Cool might not have considered attending the cup or exposed to what harness racing is about. But now there is a sense of exposure which is something to be proud of, to be part of that history.”
Total Cool will now join the Bendigo Bank as a sponsor for a key race, given the latter’s involvement as a sponsor for the Maryborough Pacing Cup.
“We are also fortunate to have the support of Bendigo Bank, they’ve been a great sponsor for a long time, and who will be the naming rights sponsor to the Pacing Cup,” Barby said.
Barby says there will be plenty of entertainment to keep spectators on their toes.
“We want to open up the Cup to different demographics and different audiences. Of course, there will be plenty of racing diehards who will go to watch the races, and we have fantastic horses on track. We also have entertainment that ranges for the kids to the adults and families,” he said.
“For the kids, we have free entertainment, such as an animal petting zoo, and the pony trots, which is entertaining for all ages, and we also have a kids’ entertainer on-site as well. We hope it’s a good day out for the family.
“We’ll have Donna Maddison performing, and The Hoffmans Duo, who will be performing in the afternoon and into the evening. There is an option to come out for dinner after the Cup is done and dusted, which is going to be great.”
Barby says he looks forward to seeing how the public warms to the Cup on Sunday, particularly given its new stand-alone status as excitement also continues to ramp up for the Redwood Carnival in October.
“It’s our busiest time of the year now, and it will be interesting to see how we go this year,” he said.
“It’s had a few date changes over the years, but this year is its first as a standalone event.
“Sometimes, previously, the Redwood overshadows it, but we want this to be a great community event, and it’s great that we have a local business that has the naming rights to the Cup.
“Some of the best horses will come to Maryborough for the day, which is a good chance to see them without travelling to the big tracks like Melton, which is exciting, and we’re bringing people to the area, which is something to be proud of.”
The Maryborough Gold Cup will be held on Sunday, September 17, with tickets $15 for adults, concession for $10 and kids 17 and under given free entry.
Gates open at 10 am, with the first race set to be held at 11.45 am.