As well as having 300 seats for the public on race days, the building also features a three-storey multi-purpose centre capable of hosting functions of up to 600 people.

It forms part of a $7 million upgrade to visitor, training and education facilities at the racecourse, in a project that began four years ago and attracted both state and federal funding.

Wangaratta Turf Club has also built 20 apartments for equine students, 38 stable boxes, a new training track and new entrance off Cruse Street.

Victorian Racing Minister Martin Pakula was in Wangaratta on Thursday for the opening, but the star attractions were those on four legs.

The 1999 Melbourne Cup winning horse Rogan Josh and champion sprinter Apache Cat, along with the 2018 Melbourne Cup, were at the venue and visited by about 1000 school children. 

Mr Pakula described the building as “a remarkable piece of infrastructure” which will be used by the Wangaratta Turf Club and for private functions.

“My first reaction was that it was almost unique amongst country racing clubs in Victoria, it’s a facility that’s really unparalleled,” he said. 

“Wangaratta has made a point of being a training hub in North East Victoria and with the kind of work the club’s done in terms of providing the accommodation for young apprentices and others.”

Wangaratta Turf Club chief executive Paul Hoysted said the plan was to increase annual visitation from 17,000 to 30,000 by 2022 and did not rule out extra race meetings.

“We think the opportunities are really endless for the community to benefit from this,” he said. 

“We’ll also use the room for equine education, we’re working with the government right now to make sure that’s commencing here from March 2019.”

Mr Pakula could not pledge to match the $1.65 million promised by the Victorian Coalition for Wodonga Turf Club, but said the government was “talking to them about an application through the racing industry fund”.

He also did not have news of a Labor candidate for Ovens Valley. 

“I’m not fully apprised of the comings and goings of our candidacy in this region, but I can assure you that when the campaign starts in earnest, there will be a candidate for this seat,” he said.