Melbourne Cup Day at Echuca

ERC manager Garry Armstrong said the day, sponsored by the Moama Bowling Club, featured a strong local presence, as many took the chance to enjoy the race that stops the nation.

“It is traditionally our biggest meeting of the year, just ahead of the Echuca Cup in March,” he said.

“The difference between the two days in the crowds is that we get a lot more people from across the region, there is that local flavour to it.

“We see people from Tongala, Kyabram and Rochester, as well as Echuca and Moama.”

Echuca is one of only six Victorian centres to host a meeting on Melbourne Cup Day, which falls on Tuesday, November 7.

Flemington, Mansfield, Mildura, Bairnsdale and Wangaratta are the other racecourses to host a meeting.

Mr Armstrong is hoping that 2023 represents a return “to normality” after two years plagued by COVID-19 and last year’s meeting impacted by the region’s flood situation.

“It would be good to have a bit of luck,” Mr Armstrong said.

“Last year we had our Stronger Together Race Day, but the weather was just terrible.

“Hopefully we can have a normal type of year, similar to what we had in 2018 or 2019.”

The racing action is highlighted by the other 3200m contest in Victoria on Melbourne Cup Day.

It doubles as a heat of the Jericho Cup, run at Warrnambool each December, and was last year won by Fast Foils.

Mr Armstrong said the ERC would have a number of marquee packages available to patrons from early September.

“I encourage anyone thinking of coming on Melbourne Cup Day, to visit country.racing.com/echuca for the latest information,” he said.

“We’ll have all the details, especially for the marquees and dining packages, on the website.”

The club will run a series of free buses to and from locations across the twin towns on Melbourne Cup Day.