The figures are contained in a consultant’s report done for Country Racing Victoria to demonstrate the value of the thoroughbred sector.

It was found there were 12 trainers in Wodonga and 37 across the Ovens-Murray area which includes Wangaratta but not Benalla.

Regionally there are 355 horses in training and direct annual expenditure of $10.62 million with 109 employed.

Racing Wodonga general manager Tom O’Connor raised the data on the eve of the Wodonga Gold Cup.

“The on-site trainers we have here are well entrenched in the community and this highlights the impact of this particular facility in the heartland of the city,” Mr O’Connor said.

The 102 horses includes those of trainer Brian Cox, who was disqualified last November for 3½ years for steroid misuse and inappropriate behaviour.

The runners, which represent a third of horses trained in Wodonga, have been taken over by Craig Widdison.

Mr O’Connor said he hoped to build on the new data as the club fought to have the cup day public holiday extended beyond 2018.

“It’s important we follow up in coming years and stay on top of trends with horse population and training areas and capital improvements,” he said.

“Similarly with our cup we’ll continue to economic studies because we’re keen to have the local holiday continue.”

An analysis of the 2016 Wodonga Gold Cup found it generated $850,531 in new money for the city.

Based on presold tickets, Mr O’Connor is expecting a crowd of 8000 today, up from 7000 last year.