Suizuro, ridden by Zac Spain, won the Bet365 Benalla Gold Cup at Benalla in September. Photo: Ross Holburt/Racing Photos
Photo by
Ross Holburt
Benalla Racing Club has once again been named as a finalist for a Country Racing Victoria award ahead of the organisation’s night of nights in Melbourne next month.
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The club’s marquee race day, the bet365 Benalla Gold Cup, held on September 27 last year, has been nominated as one of five finalists from across the state in the Kelly Sports Event of the Year category, to be announced at the awards on August 23 at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.
The Event of the Year award recognises the most outstanding feature race day of the 2024-25 season for clubs that host seven or more race meetings, with the winner receiving a $10,000 grant from Country Racing Victoria as the prize.
Benalla Racing Club manager Cameron Symes spoke of his and the club’s pride in being recognised as a finalist.
“It recognises the dedication and passion our entire team has invested in making cup day a memorable and outstanding event,” he said.
“Every year we strive to elevate the experience for our racegoers, participants and community.”
Race fans get ready for the running of the Gold Cup at Benalla on Friday, September 27. Photo: Simon Ruppert
Photo by
Simon Ruppert
The 2024 Benalla Gold Cup had a huge crowd assemble to watch five-year-old gelding Suizuro, ridden by Zac Spain and trained by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, salute in the $125,000 feature race.
There was a local flavour among the winners across the rest of the program, too, with trainers Olivia Osborne and Troy Corstens also snaring wins, Osborne with Kingwell in the $35,000 Foote Handicap and Corstens with Red Dates in the $50,000 Ryan and McNulty Sawmillers Weary Dunlop Handicap.
The Benalla Gold Cup is in the running for the award alongside a fellow Goulburn Valley club, with the Moama Bowling Club Echuca Cup also named as a finalist, as were the Apiam Bendigo Cup, bet365 Wodonga Gold Cup and Yarra Valley Christmas Party Race Day events.
Benalla Racing Club is no stranger to the CRV awards, having been named the Club of the Year for the 2022-23 season and was recognised as a finalist in the same category last year.
The Goulburn Valley will be well represented on the night, with Seymour Racing Club named as a finalist in the Club of the Year category.
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