THE thunder of hooves on the Allan Scott Glenburnie Racecource today will herald a major milestone with the first ever Scott Group of Companies Gold Cup being staged in summer.
Up to 5000 people are expected to flock to the picturesque racecourse for what punters have tipped will be a bumper twilight race meeting.
While showers are predicted, the conditions are not expected to dampen the first class provincial racing and social frivolity.
The 2018 Gold Cup was pushed forward today to make way for the $3.3m redevelopment of the Glenburnie racing circuit.
Today’s event is also expected to spark a summer fashion spectacle with fashion experts predicting the trackside crowd will be a kaleidoscope of colour and premier racing style.
Nearly 2000 people have already pre-booked in around 34 marquees that will be scattered across the course.
Mount Gambier Racing Club president John Fartch said the stage was set today for a spectacular running of the cup.
“We are hoping thousands of people will flood the course today,” Mr Fartch said trackside.
He said the number of marquees was double the number seen at the May Gold Cup, which indicated a bigger crowd today.
Mr Fartch expected thousands of people would also flow through the general admission gate.
While showers were forecast, he said the track was in good shape and called on punters not to be deterred by wet conditions.
“Half an inch of rain won’t hurt it,” the racing club veteran said.
Mr Fartch revealed there were quality fields for the nine races, which meant there should be plenty of thrills for punters.
“There are 13 horses in the gold cup and good fields in all the other races, which is excellent,” he said.
He said the carnival had also attracted quality horses from Adelaide and Murray Bridge, as well as a string of prominent regional trainers.
Club general manager Brett Watson said there appeared to be a “great vibe” around the city about the summer-based cup.
“I call on everyone to come out and enjoy the event, it will be the last one in 15 months due to the track upgrade,” Mr Fartch said.
“It is an exciting time for the club and the Mount Gambier community.”
He said the gold cup would be raced at 6.10pm, which meant there was also plenty of time for people to head out to the course after work.
“We would welcome anybody who wants to come after work and watch the big race.”
Racegoers will be able to catch a free bus leaving Mount Gambier at 5pm at a number of pick-up points in the central business district.
Track manager Lukas Byfieldt said the track was in good shape for today’s racing.
“We put a lot of water into it last week so it evens out for today,” Mr Byfieldt said.
He said he was hoping the track would be a soft five and upgraded to a good four, which was ideal for racing.
Mr Byfieldt said there had been a number of challenges with the track leading into the event.
“It has been hard to irrigate because it gets blown around and uneven,” he said.
Mr Byfieldt said the club poured up to 40mm of water into the track last week, but had backed off this week.
He said he could not wait until the track was upgraded to provide more certainty during wet weather.
