Wodonga’s premiere racing event no longer just attracts border residents but is increasingly enticing out-of-towners, and their wallets, to visit the city.
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Last year, Wodonga Gold Cup drew a crowd of eight thousand punters through the gates and generated $2.73 million to the city’s economy, according to an independent economic statement.
Wodonga Turf Club general manager Tom O’Connor said the event’s long-term plan had always been to draw in residents from major cities and growth was doing wonders for the economy.
“It’s certainly been the goal since day one,” he said.
“With the public holiday it’s about getting people to Wodonga on the Thursday, them having a good day on race day on Friday and then staying in the region through Saturday and Sunday.
“We’ve had growth of 240 per cent since [the cup started],” he said.
“It used to be on a Sunday and trackside we’d get about 1500, we’ve been able to steadily grow that to more than 8000 since 2013.”
Former Sydney man Peter MacMahon, who moved to Wodonga two years ago, knows the appeal of country racing – with 20 of his friends making their way down south for the Gold Cup.
“It’s quite different to your Randwick or Rosehill in Sydney but you feel more part of the action,” he said.
“I think country racing is an area people are seeing as being more attractive, they can make a weekend of it rather just a day at the races in Sydney.”
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Mr MacMahon said the cup’s ability to draw visitors into the city was great for the region’s economy, with people staying in hotels, eating out and visiting attractions.
“The cost benefit to the region is considerable,” he said.
Wodonga deputy mayor Kat Bennett said the Gold Cup was great for the city economically.
“Every year it just increases in terms of the economic benefit, having the public holiday allows more people to get to the event, so I think the event will go from strength to strength,” Cr Bennett said. “Lots of businesses are seeing a flow on affect, so it’s great to see.”
Mr O’Connor said the during last year’s Gold Cup more than 100 casuals were employed directly in beverages or catering, with the number of employees needed expected to grow as the crowds increase.
“There’s economic spin-off throughout the whole event,” he said.
Backing a winner for the big race
ANNA SPEEDIE (Wodonga mayor): 1: Romancer, 2: Strike Force, 3: Cha Cha King
TOM O’CONNOR (Wodonga and District Turf Club general manager): 1: Ruby Skye, 2: Spunlago, 3: Cha Cha King
DAVID JOHNSTON (The Border Mail journalist): 1: Romancer, 2: Strike Force, 3: Spunlago
AMY VAN DE VEN (Quest Wodonga): 1: Black Sail, 2: Strike Force, 3: Romancer
MICHAEL ERDELJAC (Cricket Albury-Wodonga chairman): 1: Gold Fields, 2: Black Sail, 3. Wyangle
BILL TILLEY (Member for Benambra): 1: Black Sail, 2: Wyangle, 3: Romancer
CATHY McGOWAN (Member for Indi): 1: Gold Fields, 2: Spunlago, 3: Ruby Skye
SEAN BARRETT (Ovens and Murray general manager): 1: Strike Force, 2: Romancer, 3: Gold Fields
KEVIN MACK (Albury mayor): 1: Gold Fields, 2: Romancer, 3: Ruby Skye
HENK VAN DE VEN (Albury councillor): 1: Black Sail, 2: Romancer, 3: Gold Fields
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