Easter cup meeting trotting in

By Matthew Kappos

Apr 17, 2025

Echuca Harness Racing Club is set to hold it’s Easter Cup meet on Sunday evening, one of the club’s blockbuster meets of the year. Photo: Oliver Shedden. Photo by Oliver Shedden

There’s plenty of racing action on the horizon this weekend, including one of Echuca Harness Racing Clubs’ premier meets, the Easter Cup.

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Racing fans are set to flock to Frank Ryan Raceway on Easter Sunday for an eight-race card.

“We’re really looking forward to Sunday,” club president Shane Gloury said.

“It's always a great meeting, our Easter Cup meeting on Easter Sunday, second-biggest meeting for the year and everything's looking really good.

“I'm just hoping that the weather forecast turns out okay, there's a little bit of rain forecast at this point in time, but hopefully that doesn't eventuate.

“I'm sure we'll have a really good crowd on course, like we always do.”

Entry to the racecourse is free on Sunday, an initiative the club introduced last year, and there is plenty of action on offer highlighted by the eponymous Byford Equipment Easter Cup which is race five.

Gloury said the club was feeling good about the line-up of horses and drivers on board for the meeting, including those with local connections.

“We're really happy with the numbers we've attracted, we've got full fields in virtually all races,” he said.

“I've got no doubt there'll be a few locals that will well and truly be in the finish and, hopefully, a couple of locals can get the chocolates on Easter Sunday.”

A focus on a family environment has been key for the club in its major meetings and there is set to be plenty of entertainment on offer for families.

“Most of our big events, we try to make them family events,” Gloury said.

“At Easter, just like the Christmas-New Year period, there are lots of families in town, so we decided last year we'd throw the gates open and that worked really well and I'm sure this year it will also be well received.

“For the kids on course, there's a giant Easter egg hunt, so if the kids haven't had enough chocolate by late afternoon on Sunday, parents can bring their kids down and they'll take home a few additional Easter eggs.”

There will also be a jumping castle, petting zoo, pony trots and an appearance by Batman and Wonder Woman to keep the kids entertained.

Echuca Harness Racing Club’s Easter Cup meet will take place on Easter Sunday, with the first race scheduled for 5.30pm; entry is free.