Boost For Picnic Racing

Wed 1 Feb

Victoria’s picnic racing clubs are the big winners following a $50,000 Victorian Coalition Government grant to improve racetracks and public facilities across 10 picnic racecourses. Minister for Racing Dr Denis Napthine travelled to Balnarring Picnic Racing Club yesterday, one of the major funding recipients, to announce the first round of grants for Victoria’s picnic clubs. Dr Napthine said the Coalition Government strongly supported picnic racing as a terrific community event, which also contributed significantly to the local economy. “Through the Coalition Government’s new Victorian Racing Industry Fund we have established a program specifically designed to support picnic racing clubs,” Dr Napthine said. “Picnic racing clubs rely heavily on the dedication and hard work of volunteers so this fund will be a welcome boost to help upgrade infrastructure and patron facilities. “In many cases, providing improved infrastructure at picnic racecourses has the additional benefit of assisting other community organisations who also utilise the track facilities. “The picnic racing clubs to benefit from this announcement include Alexandra, Balnarring, Buchan & Gelantipy, Dederang, Mansfield, Merton, Omeo, Tambo Valley, Woolomai and Yea.”