NEWCASTLE led the way with a one-off metropolitan Saturday stand-alone meeting in spring, featuring the then Group 2 Gold Cup and Group 3 Spring Stakes, in the unforgettable Sydney Olympics year of 2000.
Six years later Hawkesbury took another giant step when granted by RacingNSW an enduring Saturday stand-alone date which has continued to evolve and now features three Group 3s (Gold Cup, Guineas and Crown) in late autumn.
Fast forward 13 years when RacingNSW introduced two more stand-alone Saturdays in November - The Hunter at Newcastle and The Gong at Kembla Grange.
Two more years passed when Gosford joined the Saturday stand-alone party by staging The Coast in 2021.
Now the provincial set is complete.
Wyong will become the fifth and final provincial club to hold its own stand-alone meeting on a Saturday when a new $500,000 race – to be known as The Lakes – highlights a massive 10-race program on January 11.
Understandably, Wyong Race Club is thrilled to have the opportunity to further showcase provincial racing on the metropolitan stage.
“It couldn’t be at a better time,” said Wyong Race Club’s vastly experienced chief executive manager Greg Purcell.
“Being the holiday period in summer, a lot of people will be on the Central Coast and the weather is terrific.
“We are tremendously appreciative of RacingNSW’s decision to grant us this opportunity, and will be doing our utmost to ensure it is a tremendous day for everyone.
“Along with our fellow provincial clubs, the club is determined to ensure The Lakes meeting becomes an annual event.”
Along with the 1600m The Lakes, there will be seven $160,000 and two $120,000 supporting events for overall prizemoney of nearly $1.9m.
The supporting events are:
$160,000
BENCHMARK 100 HCP, 1350m
BENCHMARK 88 HCP, 2100m
BENCHMARK 78 HCP, 1200m
4YO & UP BENCHMARK 78 HCP, 1350m
F&M BENCHMARK 78 HCP, 1100m
3&4YO BENCHMARK 72 HCP, 1350m
2YO HCP, 1200m
$120,000
MIDWAY BENCHMARK 72 HCP, 1600m
TAB HIGHWAY (CLASS 3) HCP, 1100m
“We already have a number of sponsors confirmed, including of course TAB.com.au for the regular Saturday Highway Handicap, and are looking for others, including a major sponsor for The Lakes,” Purcell said.
Prior to the historic January 11 fixture, Wyong has its annual Magic Millions meeting on Wednesday, December 11.
Features are the $200,000 Wyong Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1100m), which carries restricted Listed status, and $150,000 Wyong Magic Millions 3 & 4YO Stakes (1200m).
Both races will be run at set weights (colts and geldings to carry 56.5kg and fillies 54.5kg in the 2YO Classic, entires and geldings 59kg, four-year-old mares 57kg, three-year-old colts and geldings 56kg and three-year-old fillies 54kg in the 3&4YO Stakes).
More immediately, Wyong’s next raceday is Thursday, October 31.
Story John Curtis, October 17, 2024 - Pics Steve Hart
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