Racing Victoria unveils summer schedule, including big push on twilight race meetings in January

If you like the idea of late summer nights at the racetrack then the Victoria Racing Club could be your ticket, while the MRC retains its zest for a spring change.

Flemington will host four twilight meetings in January.

Melbourne Racing Club will continue to lobby for a spring carnival overhaul, determined to make a mooted late-November Group 1 feature card its own.

It comes as Racing Victoria on Wednesday unveiled its racing schedule through to the end of July.

Twilight racing will be a hallmark of the Victoria Racing Club’s summer program, with Flemington to host four consecutive late afternoon meetings in January.

Rapid Racing — a seven-event card with races scheduled 30 minutes apart at Flemington — will be held on Friday, January 29.

The condensed format was trialled back in March on a Sunday afternoon.

The $5 million All-Star Mile — the world’s richest mile race — will be run at The Valley on March 13.

A “race-free week” (July 26-30) has been introduced as part of a two-year trial.

The rest of the 2020-21 schedule effectively mirrors last season.

Rapid Racing — a seven-event card with races scheduled 30 minutes apart — will be held at Flemington on Friday, January 29.

Under the MRC’s bold vision, which was aired earlier in the year to avoid a clash with rich Sydney features and AFL/NRL finals, the 2020 Caulfield Cup was proposed to be run this Saturday.

The unsuccessful bid to revamp the Melbourne spring carnival has however led to a Racing Australia review of all black type race programming.

MRC chief executive Josh Blanksby said the club welcomed any opportunity to submit to the “proper process”.

“We should respect Racing Australia and Racing Victoria processes … and see how they play out over the next few months,” Blanksby said.

“Certainly as a club we are keen to see a push into late November for the Spring Carnival.

“We think a review should be done and improvements and opportunities sought.

“The MRC is in a very fortunate position where we have got three racetracks and control 75 race meetings, so there could be things that could be done within our own control to try a few things.”

Flemington’s summer fixture includes eight meetings scheduled from December 12 to Australian Guineas Day on February 27.

The MRC runs multiple early spring features as well as the Zipping Classic at Sandown, a traditional bookend following the VRC’s four-day Melbourne Cup Carnival.

Flemington on Wednesday unveiled its summer fixture with eight meetings scheduled from December 12 to Australian Guineas Day on February 27.

VRC chief executive Steve Rosich said the schedule was designed to create consistency for participants.

“The VRC’s trial of twilight race meetings last season was a great success and forms the foundation for an outstanding month of twilight racing in January 2021,” Rosich said.

“This move also fits well into the Victorian racing calendar and gives participants greater clarity on twilight race meetings.”

It is hoped in coming days the State Government will pave the way for a safe and controlled return of crowds to the races.

SUMMER SENSATION

Twilight race dates in January

Jan 1: Flemington

Jan 6: Sandown

Jan 9: Flemington (Chester Manifold Stakes Day)

Jan 13: Caulfield

Jan 16: Flemington

Jan 20: Sandown

Jan 27: Geelong

Jan 29: Flemington (Rapid Racing)

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