By KATH GANNAWAY
THEY’RE off! At the gallops, the trots and the dogs.
If a day at the races is part of your summer holiday plans, the Yarra Valley has three very different venues – and three very different racing experiences on offer.
You can have a flutter trackside every week over summer with Yarra Valley Racing (YVR) in Yarra Glen, Healesville Amateur Racing Club (HARC) and Healesville Greyhound Racing Club (HGRC) running a total of 32 meetings from December through to March.
The days are long gone when the race track was a bit like the local pub, or the snooker hall – a bit shady; definitely not somewhere you’d want to take the family.
At Healesville races, the biggest field is in the Kids Stakes where the prize pool is a huge basket of lolly bags and the punters (aka parents, uncles, aunts and friends) cheer the runners on as if their favourite was 100-1 long-shot with a real chance.
Yarra Glen and Healesville Greyhound tracks are also geared up for families, and they show it with entertainment, games, well-equipped playgrounds and an emphasis on providing facilities and spaces where families can enjoy a relaxing day out with plenty to keep everyone happy and entertained.
It’s not all about the kids however and each track offers great dining and marquee packages for young people, family, community and corporate groups, as well as lots of lawned areas for picnics.
And, then there’s the horses! For the more serious punters, there are TAB facilities along with the on-course bookies who provide betting on local and other meetings, as well as adding to the race day atmosphere.
Don’t limit yourself this summer. Be adventurous. Try all the codes and enjoy the unique features each track offers – Healesville Greyhound’s straight sand track, for instance; the magnificent pin-oaks at Healesville, and the incredible views from the grandstand at Yarra Glen – just for starters!
Make a Race Date
Healesville Greyhounds: Every Sunday.
Healesville Races: Saturdays – 14 December, 11 January, 1 February and 5 April.
Yarra Glen Races: Fridays 13 and 20 December; Tuesday 7 January, Thursday 16 January, Sundays 26 January and 16 February, Monday 24 February, Saturday 1 March, Wednesday 12 March, Sunday 16 March and Monday, 31 March.
Want to know more?
Healesville Greyhounds: www.grv.org.au/healesville
Healesville Races: www.healesvilleraces.com.au
Yarra Glen Races: www.yarravalleyracing.com.au
