THE state’s best up-and-coming, country trained gallopers will converge on Murtoa racecourse for a chance to compete for lucrative prize money on Oaks Day.
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Murtoa has been selected as the opening venue to host an eight-leg series on Murtoa Cup Day, on October 7.
This will form part of the Melbourne Cup Carnival Country Series.
A $200,000 benchmark 80 (1600m) series final is at Flemington Racecourse on November 9.
Eligibility for the Murtoa 1600m Benchmark 64 race will be restricted to Victorian trainers who do not have a metropolitan training base.
Horses that finish first and second earn a place in the final, which replaces a race for country horses that has featured on the VRC Oaks Day program for more than a decade.
The Murtoa Marma Racing Club will also have the chance to host the $200,000 Emirates Melbourne Cup on Murtoa Cup Day.
Country Racing Victoria chief executive Scott Whiteman said the country series recognised the value of country racing.
“This is a tremendous decision by (Racing Victoria) and will be a much sought-after race,” Mr Whiteman said.
“The (Victorian Racing Club) is to be congratulated, too, for its determination to once again raise the profile of this important race.”
Racing Victoria’s executive general manager (racing), Greg Carpenter, said the country series reinvigorated country racing’s link with Oaks Day.
Other venues for the series include Ballarat, Cranbourne, Seymour, Geelong, Hamilton, Sale and Bendigo.
