Preparations in full swing to host large crowd for Cup Day

The Ballarat Cup will this weekend have full crowds for the first time in three years but now another concern is looming on the horizon.

The Ballarat Turf Club has revealed only thunderstorms and lightning can impact Ballarat Cup day this Saturday.

And the rainfall in the region recently will not impact the Cup being run on the turf track.

Multiple Cup days in Victoria have been abandoned over the past month after heavy rainfall and flooding made racetracks unsafe to race on.

Ballarat this week has received more than 40mm of rain already and with more expected there were concerns the meet might be moved from the grass to synthetic.

But Ballarat Turf Club Chief Executive Officer Belinda Glass said the track should hold up, even if more rain falls this week before Saturday.

“I don’t think it would likely go to the poli track,” she said.

“We’re obviously hopeful the track rating will get better.

“We upgraded from a heavy 9 to a heavy 8 (today) and are not expecting rain for the next few days.”

Rain is forecast for Saturday with 10-15mm predicted by the Bureau of Meteorology.

Glass said the rain wouldn’t impact on the day but the lightning and thunder, which is forecast to happen, would.

“We’re hopeful the rain comes on Saturday night and maybe Sunday,” she said.

“If they (thunderstorms and lightning) are so severe (and) it becomes a safety issue there will be decisions made.”

Last month the Manikato Stakes at Mooney Valley were moved from Friday to Saturday following lightning and thunder in Melbourne.

Glass said Racing Victoria would make a similar move, in consultation with Ballarat Turf Club, if the weather came to the track.

This year is the first year since 2019 the Ballarat Cup has had no crowd restrictions.

Last year’s event was capped at 5000.

Glass is hopeful crowds can come back to what it was in 2019, around 9,000, but admitted factors might prevent it from happening.

“Obviously the weather forecast can put people off,” she said.

“There is going to be cover and there is indoor spaces available and an outside grandstand.

“We’ll still run the Cup unless there is storm activity, which is out of everyone's control.

“But we’re hopeful we will press on.”

The Ballarat Cup field was finalised this morning with 15 entries listed for the 2000m race.

Zayydani (NZ) ridden by Luke Nolen won the Sportsbet Ballarat Cup last year. Picture: Pat Scala/Racing Photos via Getty Images

Ballarat trainer Chris Waller headlines the entries with four horses, Desert Icon, Polly Grey, Atishu and Longvillers, named to compete.

Racing starts at 12.10pm on the day with general admission tickets still available.

To book head here.