On course spending helps set Echuca apart from the country pack

Echuca Race Club

ECHUCA Race Manager Leigh Muton believes an investment in on course amenities has helped his club become one of the strongest and well-attended courses in country Victoria.

Thursday’s 10 race meeting in the rural city has attracted thousands of patrons, who get to watch the races from the comfort of a bar and dining room, which is less than 200m from the course proper.

Muton believes this is what sets them apart from the rest of the country pack.

“That was an investment we made probably two years ago,” Muton told HorseBetting.com.au at the track.

“It means we can fill the place out in any conditions and in any season, and we overlook the course and the finish line.

“It’s the ideal spot.”

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Drawing patrons on course is one of the hardest tasks during the week at country tracks in the dead of winter, but Muton believes his club has cracked the code.

The manager went on to say other race clubs in the area have looked to emulate the club’s facilitates to help generate additional patronage on course.

“We’ve had people from Corowa and other clubs around take a look at what we’re doing here and they said they were keen to bring something similar to their race clubs.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s a Thursday, or a Tuesday, our facility assists with patrons and members coming along whether it’s hot or cold.”

The race club might have some of the best facilities in the region, but Racing Victoria will not schedule meetings if the course is not up to scratch.

Fortunately the Echuca course is one of the most reliable tracks in the region, and the club’s manager said the confidence has been reflected in the amount of meetings they have held so far.

“This is actually the third race meet in four and a half weeks,” Muton explained.

“Despite all that action, it is playing fairly well and this is the 15th meeting – when we were originally scheduled for 12 – and we are still getting winners from every area on the track.

“Echuca is usually the go-to track for transfer meets in Victoria.”

Invariably the big-name trainers and jockeys like to avoid the country tracks, but Echuca is typically the exception to the rule.

Thursday’s 10-race card boasts runners from the Hayes and Daberning stable, the Darren Weir camp and even Godolphin runners.

The racing manager believes the state of the track alongside the on course facilities for the horses helps make the connections’ decision to send their gallopers further than they normally would.

“The trainers love bringing their horses here,” Muton explained.

“As you can see by the fields there’s trainers from Stawell, Cranbourne, Melbourne, they come from all corners.

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“The ten race card obviously helps too, we’ve been given the full card and most races are filled right up so it’s a win-win for everyone.

“We’re really happy to get all the big-name trainers and jockeys come up here and ultimately it works out well for everybody.”

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