RACING Wodonga officials claim they are winning the race to make its public holiday cup meeting a permanent fixture on the calendar.
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Increased corporate support and encouraging pre-event ticket sales are pointing to a bigger crowd for the second meeting backed by a full-day holiday on Friday.
Racing Wodonga is heading into a crucial second of a three-year arrangement for the meeting which had to win the support of the Victorian Government and Wodonga Council.
The public holiday is in lieu of Melbourne Cup day and last year's official crowd of 4773 was almost double the 2500 which attended on a Sunday.
But Racing Wodonga general manager Tom OÇonnor said the club was aware of the pressure to keep growing the event.
"As a club we know we've got to continue to demonstrate the value of changing the holiday," he said.
"It has got to be seen as a strong community event that is growing and momentum is heading in the right direction.
"We've got strong Wodonga businesses knocking down our door to make sure they've got a presence on the day."
A total of 450 people including Hawthorn premiership players Jack Gunston, James Frawley and Taylor Duryea and homegrown Hawk Jonathon Ceglar are booked into the VIP marquee.
Gunston will help judge fashions on the field and other VIP guests include leading trainer Peter Moody and Joe Janiak, the trainer of former star sprinter Takeover Target.
Mr O'Connor said 500 more people were booked into marquees compared to last year and almost 1000 people have taken advantage of discounted pre-event tickets worth $15.
Wodonga chamber of commerce is closely monitoring the event's success with its long-term future to be discussed internally next month.
Chamber business manager Bernie Squire said there had been minimal feedback either way on the public holiday cup meeting this year.
"There were quite a few business which opened on Melbourne Cup day and quite a few which closed," he said.
"Businesses are deciding what is best for them."
Recently elected Wodonga mayor Anna Speedie is attending the meeting for the first time after being required to work last year.
"We've had a little bit of mixed response from the community at large," she said.
"But the feedback I am personally getting is people I know are going and are going for their Christmas function.
"I'm looking forward to going and seeing the numbers on the day."
