Towong Cup 2018 Saturday March 10

Towong Turf Club, Racecourse Lane, Towong, Victoria, 3707.  The historic 147^th running of the Towong Cup, a TAB event, is being held on Saturday, March 10, 2018 and features a seven race program kicking off at 1pm with the crowning event being the $20,000 Cup prize.

“Come and join more than 2,000 horse racing and lifestyle enthusiasts on this Labour Day holiday weekend.  There will be a “Fashions on the Field” contest (juniors, ladies, men and couples) with each category winning a prize and live music on the course with activities for children (face painting and bounce house)” says Dr. Ian Cesa, Melbourne, who attends each year.

The Towong racecourse was included in the setting for the Hollywood movie production of Phar Lap, released in 1983 staring Tom Burlinson, Martin Vaughn, Judy Morris, directed by Simon Wincer and tells the story of the legendary winner of the Melbourne Cup who dominated Australian racing in his time (1926-1932) and died under mysterious circumstances in affluent Atherton, California (now part of Silicon Valley) in 1932.

Travel Specifics, Towong Entertainment Options, Surrounding Area

Race Course location:  84 Race Course Lane, Towong, Victoria 3703, Australia; General admission $20

By road from:

Melbourne: Hume Highway, then Murray Valley Highway towards Towong; 450 kms/5 hours  

Canberra and Sydney: Hume Highway to Tumblong, follow signs to Tumbarumba and Towong; 320 kms/4hours from Canberra, 530 kms/6.5 hours from Sydney.

By Train or Air:  From Sydney or Melbourne to Albury, book accommodations in Albury for Friday and Saturday March 9 and 10.  A complimentary Towong bus departs Albury Railway Station Saturday March 20 at 9:30am and returns from Towong departing at 6pm to Albury Railway Station arriving by 745pm.  Please check with Towong Turf Club for possible bus reservations.

 Private plane accessible into Corryong Airport.

Surrounding Area

Make a long weekend of it.  Visit the beautiful Upper Murray (visituppermurray.com); taste some cool climate Tumbarumba wines (tumbarumbawines.com); Burrowa-Pine Mountain National Park; Bluff Falls Nature Walk; Man From Snowy River Museum Corryong; Golf, the banks of the Murray River at Walwa.  For hotel suggestions telephone the Corryong Visitor Information Centre on 02-6076-2277.

Towong Entertainment Options

Experience the luxury of your own private marquee with food and beverage.  Get up close and personal with jockeys and trainers Victoria wide with all the action from the mounting to the winning post.  Make arrangements through Club Secretary Rohan Whitehead below.

For more information contact Club Secretary Rohan Whitehead, towongturfclub@gmail.com

0427220966 or consult https://country.racing.com/towong

About The Towong Turf Club: The first race meeting occurred at Towong on Marcy 1, 1871.  The first Towong Cup, then known as the Towong Shire Handicap, was run in 1883.  The race was re-named The Towong Cup in 1924.  Many champion horses were bred or started their careers at Towong.  Glenloth won several races at Towong, including the Towong Shire Handicap prior to winning the Melbourne Cup in 1892.  Other notable horses winning the Towong Cup include Dyed Garments and Trafalgar both winners of the Sydney Cup, and Patrobus who won the 1915 Derby and Melbourne Cup.  Squizzy Taylor, the feared underworld figure, made it to the Cup in 1927.