Horse racing is a prominent passion of the bush community, wherever you are in Australia. In the land of Ned Kelly, the bushranger, the equestrian bent is even more pronounced. Ned, of course, originally got into strife for stealing horses, although the coppers at the time were involved in some shady dealings in this space as well. Ned and his boys loved their horses and were great riders, often using this skill to evade the dogged but somewhat plodding police. So, when you think about the state of Victoria, you can include quality horseflesh in the picture.
Country Races in Victoria
You can make the many fine country race meetings around the state, a great way to see Victoria. Drop in at Bendigo, Warrnambool, Geelong, Cranbourne, Moe, Wodonga, Warracknabeal, Benalla, Coleraine, Gunbower, Ararat, Bairnsdale, Ballarat and many more racing clubs and tracks to meet the locals and have a fun day. Country racing has more flavour, in many ways, than the metro meets in the city. Regional folk are more forthright with their feelings and friendliness. The horses are pretty good too. Have a beer or wine and sit back and enjoy an afternoon’s racing.
Victorian horse racing features a number of fantastic country cups, where you will see some of the best horseflesh going around at that time of the year. All the local identities will be there from the towns: Mayors, Councillors, Pollies, Business Owners and the fun of the fair. It is a chance to get dressed up and buy a big hat. There will be laughter, the heart in the mouth flutter on the big race and some yummy food to boot. A day at a country cup will be a day to remember. You might even win some money.
Getting to all the race meets in Victoria is easy if you have a vehicle, as the roads are in excellent condition and all the tracks are well signed. There is public transport via trains and buses and you can check out their scheduled times on the race club websites and the transport companies own sites. You could get a group together and organise your own little bus to take you there and back on the day. This can be a lot of fun and more affordable than you might imagine it to be. The country races in Victoria are a great opportunity to experience the real people and this beautiful neck of the woods.