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Turf Deli Spring Racing Carnival - Moonee Valley Track Guide
Moonee Valley Track Guide

If racecourses are elegant, rambling estates with roses and sweeping lawns, then Moonee Valley is the concrete backyard at your grandmother's place, which struggled for room for a game of 4-square. Still, the cosiness means that on big race days the atmosphere is definitely there, as are about 35,000 sweaty people crammed into a confined place. The small size also means that if you are out on the lawn then you are really close to the equine action.

Moonee Valley is quite progressive compared to the other race clubs and in the last couple of years has introduced Night Racing. This has bought much excitement to the die hard racing fraternity who can now offset their snazzy daytime safari suits and walking, living Opp Shop attire, with the night time equivalent (the same outfit with a duffle coat). Moonee Valley set the pace again in 1995 entirely replacing its track with StrathAyr artificial turf (the same stuff they use at Colonial Stadium), meaning that the track is 'all weather' and they can race even if someone accidentally left the sprinklers on all night.

Things to watch out for:

Hedge Horses : These are really impressive. Inside the main gates are five expertly sculptured hedges in the form of horse and jockey. Apparently these have taken ten years to grow in a precisely controlled environment. Either that or they have managed to get Edward Scissorhands on contract. How long they last when some drunken hoon decides to ride them after Cox Plate Day ? We will see.

Night meetings : Whether it's a night meeting or the trots, driving up the ramp into the centre car park into the full bank of grandstand lights is a truly mystical experience and something that every punter should experience.

Cafe Kozmo : A night club on course !! Turf Deli has never actually ventured into this hallowed place as they take one look at his tweed Pork Pie hat at the door and he is out on his ear. Which is probably good, because considering the amount of body language that is required to signal at a noisy crowded nightclub "I'll have two VB's thanks", it would be difficult through the din to signal " I'll have a box trifecta 3, 19, 2 and 12 and $10 each way on the fav thanks love.."

Function Centre: Moonee Valley is getting more and more use these days as a function centre for every occasion - so just make sure you don't stumble onto a secret meeting of the Stone Cutters.

Concerts : There you are trying to work out your quaddie and suddenly Paul Kelly or The Whitlams starts belting out a tune. Actually a great idea and good to be able to see some live music in the open and not be choked by cigarette smoke

On The Day:

Getting There By Car : Probably a good option for Moonee Valley. Usually there is plenty of room in the centre car park, which is accessed off Brunswick Rd by turning right just past the Tullamarine turn off if coming from the city.

By Public Transport : Catch the train on the Broadmeadows line to Moonee Ponds station and walk down through the Puckle Street shopping strip. Otherwise, the tram runs right out the front. Do not talk to the driver and no, he does not have change.

Where To Meet : Away from the main action of the betting rings and the bars there is plenty of room for spotting people.

Useful Stuff ATM Machines : Inside the main gates on the left. If there is a big line, see if you can grab a pass out and nick up to Puckle Street where there are plenty of banks.

Cigarettes : Visit the newsagency type shop on the right hand side as you walk in - just next to the secretary's office.
On This Year:

Bill Stutt Stakes (04/10/2002): Friday night racing ? What if we have a hot date ?

Cox Plate (26/10/2002) : Moonee Valley comes alive for the weight for age championship of Australia. Admission : $40

Web Site : Visit the Moonee Valley website for all the real information you need.

Famous Recent Races :

1998 and Might and Power completes the grand slam of the Spring Carnival races (along with 1997 Caulfield and Melbourne Cups). A jubilant owner Nick Moraitis walks the length of the straight high fiving the crowd along the fence.

Track Guide Moonee Valley is a tight circuit and some horses just don't handle it. The StrathAyr Track is cambered slightly (just like a cycling velodrome), so you will often see the horse making the widest run on the home turn finishing too strongly to win.
Despite the very short straight (178m), don't start cheering too soon on the home turn if your horse kicks, cause they often get run down. Drawing an inside barrier can often be a disadvantage as many horses get trapped with nowhere to go in the run home.

Track Circumference: 1805 M Length of Straight : 178 M
 
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