Long-time Pakenham Racing Club gate man Terry Egan was happy to welcome Bundy girls Mel and Chloe to the mounting yard at Pakenham’s well-attended Christmas race meeting last Friday.– Brad Kingsbury
A FESTIVE crowd of 1500 patrons combined Christmas cheer with the sport of kings at Pakenham racecourse last Friday.
The occasion was the Pakenham Racing Club’s traditional Christmas race day, with many people and businesses throughout the district taking the opportunity to let their hair down and celebrate the season on a perfect afternoon at the picturesque track.
Among the day’s highlights were a visit by the ‘Bundy girls’, who were on hand for photographs with the winning connections of the Bundy Rum Maiden.
Mornington trainer Fran Houlahan took the day’s honours with two winners on the eight-race program.
Santa also made an appearance, spreading Christmas cheer among almost 1000 marquee patrons, while on the track local trainer John Leek was also in party mode after his stayer Dawson Road won the feature event, the $10,000 Class 4 Handicap.
Club racing manager Michael Hodge was happy with the day’s proceedings and praised the community for its support of the day.
The next meeting at the track will be the Pakenham Picnic Racing Club’s New Year’s Day meeting, followed by the Pakenham-Berwick Gazette Kid’s Day Out race day on Sunday, 23 January.
