The Moonee Valley Racing Club, in conjunction with the Australian Chinese Jockey Club (ACJC), will bring the most exciting Chinese New Year Celebration seen yet to The Valley on Friday night.
Celebrating the Year of the Dog, a crowd of over 8,000 racegoers will enjoy free entry and descend on The Valley for a Chinese cultural event not-to-be-missed with traditional cuisine, amazing cultural performances, live music entertainment, rice giveaways and much more in scenes rarely seen on a racetrack.
Those looking for a flutter on the track won’t have any trouble finding the Chinese ‘Lucky 8’ horses, with specially designed saddlecloths to appear on each race of the eight-race card, while the feature event of the night is the Group 3 Carazzo Consulting Typhoon Tracy Stakes – named in honour of the 2009/10 Australian Racehorse of the Year.
Jamie Pi is back to call the races in Mandarin, with Race 5 (Network Pacific Handicap) to be called over the on course PA and remaining races on the RSN Carnival App.
The main stage on The Valley’s front lawn will provide a cultural feast for the eyes, with Chair Stack Acrobats, Chinese Cultural and Dragon Dancers, a Sword and Contortionist Duo, a Fire and Acrobatic Duo and many live music performances. Nobody will be leaving hungry either with 12 of Melbourne’s leading Asian food trucks to tantalise your tastebuds.
If that isn’t enough entertainment, there will be a special Yum Cha – Sharing Good Luck & Prosperity Art Exhibition which will be located in the Octagonal Lounge as well as a Qipao Parade, a Chinese dress worn for special occasions, to be paraded after race 3 on the main stage.
Celebrating the Year of the Dog, the MVRC and ACJC are proud to partner with Guide Dogs Victoria, who will be attending on course on Friday night with a ‘Puppy Playpen’ and selling their Chinese New Year inspired Guide Dog merchandise, with funds raised helping to providing vital support for Victorians with low vision or blindness.
Not only is it FREE admission, but there will be 500 one-kilogram bags of rice to be given away – seen as an auspicious blessing in Chinese culture for the Chinese New Year.
Be on track also for your chance to win two return business class tickets from Melbourne to Qingdao, thanks to Beijing Capital Airlines. We also have a second prize which is a fantastic Mitchelton Wine getaway experience.
The kid’s will also be kept entertained thanks to the Melbourne City Football Club Fan Zone, which will include soccer clinics, jumping castles, face painting and much more at the North Hill Precinct.
2018 marks the third ACJC Chinese New Year Celebration to be held at The Valley and the MVRC is proud to partner with the Victorian Government, Racing Victoria and the Australian Chinese Jockey Club to make this event a success.
General admission is FREE with gates to open at 5.15pm and Race 1 jumping at 6.30pm.