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2023 04 06

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Moonee Valley Racing Club respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of this land – the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people of the Kulin Nation – and pays our respects to its Elders past, present, and emerging.

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Moonee Valley Racing Club on track to become Australia's first carbon neutral sports and entertainment precinct.

Moonee Valley Racing Club has revealed ambitions to become Australia’s most sustainable sports and entertainment precinct, with plans to achieve carbon neutrality by 2027 taking a significant leap forward with the recent approval of critical development permits.Moonee Valley Racing Club will undertake a whole-site approach to environmentally sustainable design throughout the master plan delivery. The Club is targeting significant reductions in energy consumption across all facilities, including the new Grandstand and Clubhouse, which will consume at least 20per cent less energy than is required under building regulations.Lighting upgrades will see LED lighting installed on the racetrack, further contributing to reduced energy consumption. The upgrade and operational management will improve the efficiency of track lighting by 52 per cent, saving the Club $400,000 per year. Over 3.5kWH of grid energy is expected to be saved by generating and storing electricity on-site, saving almost 3,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually.The announcement follows the unveiling of a master planned sports, community and lifestyle precinct&nbsp;designed within the existing racecourse land in one of the most significant urban regeneration projects in Australian history.Modernisation of the racing precinct, construction of a multi-function Grandstand and the creation of recreational, public facilities within the racetrack in-field are key elements of the master plan, which seeks to bring vibrancy to Moonee Ponds and be a major source of jobs and economic growth for generations to come.“This is the most significant transformation in Moonee Valley Racing Club’s 140-year history. The landmark precinct will ensure Moonee Valley Racing Club’s relevancy amongst future generations of customers and the broader community alike,”&nbsp;Moonee Valley Racing Club’s Chief Executive Officer, Michael Browell, said.Permit approval for the racetrack upgrades and a revitalised maintenance precinct have now been received, signifying an important marker for the 10-year project as it moves into the delivery stage.Racetrack upgrades include innovative techniques to improve water conservation on the site, such as harvesting water from stormwater pipes and capturing all excess irrigation water from the track. Moonee Valley Racing Club estimates the in-field areas will provide a major water catchment source for future stormwater harvesting.The sustainability initiatives planned will also allow Moonee Valley Racing Club to target Green Star and EnviroDevelopment certification. A significant milestone for the Club, this will be the first time an Australian sports and entertainment precinct has been awarded certification in history.Track expansion will increase the home straight to a new length of 317m, allowing for a longer duration of racing. The Cox Plate will commence from the top of the home straight, improving the visual experience for future racing spectators. The new Grandstand design will enhance the current track's unique “colosseum” effect.When planning the racetrack upgrades, Moonee Valley Racing Club took equine welfare into high consideration, in line with society’s attitudinal shifts towards horse racing. Wider turns for horses on the new track will be within a range of 120m – 133m in radius, with a 3-4 per cent camber at the bends to provide greater safety for the horses running at high speeds."The realignment of the racetrack creates significant opportunities to modernise the horse racing operations, rebuild and upgrade facilities and implement more sustainable practices at Moonee Valley Racecourse,"&nbsp;Moonee Valley Racing Club Chairman, Adam Lennen, said.Racing precinct redevelopments will be&nbsp;complemented&nbsp;and activated by commercial, entertainment and recreational facilities.&nbsp;MVRC will leverage its event management expertise to deliver a curated calendar of events for the local community.Planned amenity includes bar and dining venues, gym, wellness centre, day spa, and a new shared path along Dean Street, contributing to the local and regional bike network.“An important aspect of the master plan strategy was encouraging visitation 365 days a year, to ensure the Club’s future viability.”&nbsp; Moonee Valley Racing Club’s Head of Property, Georgia Willis, said.“We considered the evolving needs of the community and future customers, and how we could create broader appeal to these markets beyond racing. We identified that a wider, frequent offering would improve visitation amongst these groups,” Ms Willis added.A focus on personalised experiences that cater towards community values such as ethical living, sustainability, health, and wellness have been incorporated into the precinct’s offering.“The proposed outdoor recreation and running track will appeal to current and future locals who prioritise health and fitness, whilst outdoor play equipment will appeal to the increase in young families we’re seeing move into the area.” Ms Willis said.A commercial offering will provide local businesses with the opportunity to participate in the reinvigorated precinct. During the planning process, the Club identified market gaps in the local retail offering, with survey results signifying local demand for a quality retail experience.Upon completion, Moonee Valley Racing Club projects precinct visitation to increase by approximately 50,000 visitors a year, causing a positive flow-on effect to Puckle Street and nearby businesses. It is anticipated that a total of $1m will be injected into the local economy each year as a result.“We anticipate the new precinct will provide significant economic uplift for current and future Moonee Ponds residents. It’s a game-changer for the local area and demonstrates our united commitment to creating a vibrant and thriving community,” Moonee Valley City Council Mayor, Pierce Tyson, said.Construction and upgrades of the precinct are set to commence in 2025, with completion anticipated for mid-2027.

Greatness has been on display at The Valley in season 2022/23 from Anamoe’s successful second shot at the Ladbrokes Cox Plate, to Mr Brightside stamping himself as a 1600m specialist in The Sharp EIT All-Star Mile.After a two-year absence, crowds were back on track for the spring, with the Charter Keck Cramer Moir Stakes the first of the Group 1s at The Valley for the season. It was speedy filly Coolangatta from the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace yard who clung on for a narrow win over stablemate Bella Nipotina in the 1000m scamper.&nbsp;The Ladbrokes Cox Plate Carnival was unforgettable on multiple fronts, starting with a drama-filled Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes night. A wild storm swept through Melbourne midway through the meeting, resulting in the final three races – including the Group 1 sprint – being abandoned for the evening. The feature sprint would instead form part of a bumper 11-race card on Ladbrokes Cox Plate Day.&nbsp;The undercard to the main event on Ladbrokes Cox Plate Day produced some stunning performances. Annabel Neasham unleashed My Oberon in the Schweppes Crystal Mile and the Irish gelding made a sweeping run around the field to score easily. Chris Waller’s import Francesco Guardi was even more dominant in the McCafé Moonee Valley Gold Cup, proving his place in the top handful of Australian-trained stayers with a 3 ¾ length win in the Group 2.&nbsp;A field of 12 lined up for the Ladbrokes Cox Plate, with Anamoe, who had gone agonisingly close to winning the race a year earlier when finishing runner-up to State Of Rest, jumping as favourite. Given a beautiful steer by James McDonald, Anamoe pounced at the top of the straight, before going on to defeat I’m Thunderstruck by just under half-a-length. El Bodegon, first-up in Australia, finished third. It was a star-studded field that the James Cummings-trained galloper defeated, with Zaaki, Alligator Blood, Mr Brightside, and Gold Trip – who less than a fortnight later would claim the Melbourne Cup – among the other names to feature in the beaten brigade.&nbsp;Bella Nipotina rounded out the day with a thumping victory in the Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes. Heavily backed in the wet conditions, the Maher/Eustace mare’s 4 ¾ length win, her first at Group 1 level having gone close twice before at The Valley, proving a popular conclusion to a stirring carnival.&nbsp;The summer period provides a stacked schedule of racing at The Valley and a couple of speedsters shone brightly. In early December, Enver Jusufovic’s sprinter Mutinous scorched the track in a heat of the Ladbrokes 55 Second Challenge, stopping the clock at 54.93 for the 955m, a time that wouldn’t be bettered for the remainder of the season. It earned Jusufovic a big payday, with the trainer pocketing $55,000 for the feat.&nbsp; The Christmas Eve meeting saw another blistering run, this time from the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Inundation. The promising four-year-old broke the 1000m track record at The Valley in his return run from a spell.&nbsp;In March, The Valley hosted The Sharp EIT All-Star Mile for the second time in the race’s short history. On a hot autumn’s day, Mr Brightside for Ben and JD Hayes declared himself a star miler, defeating Cascadian by half-a-length with The Inevitable in third. Mr Brightside’s legion of owners were in raptures, as was the owner ambassador of the five-year-old who collected $250,000.&nbsp;&nbsp;It was a quick back-up of feature racing at The Valley with the 3 Point Motors William Reid Stakes bringing the curtain down on the night racing season the following Friday. Kiwi mare Imperatriz, who already had four Group 1 wins to her name back in New Zealand, displayed to the Australian audience why she should be considered among the very best sprinters in Australasia, defeating track specialist Bella Nipotina by a length. Another notable performance on the card was by Sirileo Miss, with Symon Wilde’s mare in the form of her life as she put 5 ½ lengths on her nearest rival in the BMD Group Sunline Stakes at Group 2 level.&nbsp;The popular highlight of the Ladbrokes Friday Night Lights Season Finale was the Thoroughbred Industry Careers Pony Exhibition Race, which saw 12 passionate young riders take centre stage with their beloved mounts in front of a big crowd. Pedro for Clara Greenwood streaked away for an impressive win, posting some lightning late sectionals to beat the brave Prancer with Maia Boorn on board. The race was again called to perfection by racecaller Matt Hill and the concept received great feedback both on course and online.It has been a competitive race in The Valley’s Catanach’s Jewellers Jockey Premiership, with Jamie Kah sitting on top with 75 points from Damien Oliver (69), Blake Shinn (66) and Craig Williams (58). Another jockey making waves has been apprentice Celine Gaudray who has collected eights wins at The Valley for the season striking at 20.51%. In the training ranks, James Cummings has enjoyed plenty of success from limited chances, picking up seven wins from just 29 starters at a strike rate of 24.14%. Other high achievers have been Peter Moody (12 at 22.64%), Ben &amp; JD Hayes (12 at 18.75%) and Ciaron Maher and David Eustace (19 at 17.59%).&nbsp;Racing will return at The Valley in July before gearing up for the 2023/24 racing season and the 103rd running of the Ladbrokes Cox Plate.

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moonee valley racecourse Australia's first carbon neutral sports and entertainment precint