Night racing at Moonee Valley racecourse (Image: Racing Photos)
There’ll be fireworks at The Valley on Friday night and we don’t mean metaphorically.
45 minutes after the last race, once every horse has left the track as not to spook them, the precinct will light up to celebrate the end of another tough year and hope for better in 2022.
“We had a New Year’s Eve meeting a couple of years ago which was really successful and found a lot of the local families in the community really embraced it,” MVRC General Manager Racing, Communications and Media, Alastair Dwyer said.
“It’s going to be a hot day but hopefully the nice cool breezes blow in around 5pm ahead of the first race at 5:15.”
Melbourne is expecting its hottest day since last summer on Friday with a forecast top of 37 degrees, a stark contrast to the cold and wet evenings which have dogged The Valley’s Friday night meets.
“We’ll be enacting our heat policy for the horses to make sure they are looked after and comfortable and there’ll be plenty of shade and a no doubt very popular beer garden for those on track,” Dwyer said.
“It really will be a very family focused night with lot of activities for the kids, live music and with a last race scheduled for 8.45, people can get home to bed or head out and enjoy a late night … after the fireworks of course.”
Between the last race and the scheduled fireworks display, those on track can enjoy a Kylie Minogue tribute show.
Tickets for the New Year’s Eve meeting are only $10 with the club hoping the weather and value for money in terms of entertainment will see between 3000 and 4000 people through the gates.