While general attendance was lower than usual due to the weather, the crowds that had booked hospitality packages still enjoyed the live music, off-track activities and plenty of thoroughbred action.
“Attendance was pretty good considering the weather conditions; obviously, we had quite a few showers before the gates opened and then quite a few showers throughout the day,” ERC track manager Jarratt Farley said.
“We had a bit of an issue with the wind and had to shut down our umbrellas because of safety, which caused a few delays, but, up until that point it was pretty well attended.
“All those that booked tickets attended, but our general admission, just due to that weather, was well down on previous years.
“Everyone who’s booked that an all-inclusive hospitality package or booked an umbrella did attend on the day, so that was a positive.
“Everything went really well considering the weather, so racing was good and the day itself was great.”
On-track, the highlight of the day was Echuca native apprentice jockey Hayley Spitse winning race six aboard the Gwenda Johnstone-trained six-year-old mare Tapo.
There was more reward for the Johnstone-Spitse combination with the six-year-old mare Wayne’s Dream placing third in race five as fellow local jockey Rose Hammond finished runner-up on three-year-old filly Scusies.
Farley was pleased to see the local jockeys and trainers succeed on their home track, particularly on a big occasion like the Melbourne Cup.
“Local jockey Hayley Spitse and Gwenda Johnstone had a strong day out, Hayley rode won of Gwenda’s horses to victory in one of the races, which was good for the locals,” Farley said.
One of the major draw cards for ERC’s Melbourne Cup day event is its iconic fashions on the field, which is typically well attended, and Farley confirmed that the 2025 edition was no different.
“Fashions on the field were really well fought out,” he said.
“We had really strong numbers throughout all the categories, and from what I saw, mate, the winners were quite deserving and well rewarded with some great prizes.”
ERC’s next event will be its New Year’s Eve Family Day, which Farley and the committee are busily preparing for and excited to host.
“New Year’s Eve is always a good family event,” he said.
“We have a cheap entry on that day, lots of kids activities and hopefully the weather’s a bit warmer, and we can have the water slides and all that sort of stuff going on as well.
“We’re really excited about our New Year’s Eve race meeting, it’s one of the highlights on the calendar, that’s for sure.”
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