Blake Lee, The Buloke Times

From fashions to food, friends and family to fun, the iconic Elders Mt. Wycheproof Cup Day offered something for all 4,000 in attendance on Saturday, November 4.

Wycheproof may only be home to 600 residents; however, it surely knows how to attract large crowds to its vibrant events, with Derby Day in the Country “significantly” surpassing previous Cup attendance records.

Patrons descended upon the Calder Highway in droves, travelling from all corners of the state and even further to grab a slice of country racing at its finest. Some made the long journey from Tasmania, while others who travelled from Cairns were treated to sunshine similar of that to their home state.

The volunteer committee members were ecstatic with the large turnout, after months of behind-the-scenes preparation and planning, and a long three year wait since crowds had last flooded through the gates.

“The Club is fortunate to have a varied age-demographic of volunteers who are dedicated and passionate… and ultimately the quality event results are testament to their investment for future club success and sustainability,” said Jackie Noonan, committee member and Marketing and Sponsorship.

For those accustomed to the racing atmosphere there were betting stations, gin tasting, and bars on offer, while for the younger ones, and young at heart, food vans, games and a bouncy castle were more desired.

The Cup may have been abandoned due to concerns over an unsafe track; however, racegoers continued their celebrations long into the night, energised by the live bands and talented musicians who had also kept the crowd lively throughout the day.

Derby Day in the Country was back bigger and better than ever, and a great day out was enjoyed by all racegoers, supporters, families, and locals thanks to the enormous efforts of the hardworking and resilient committee members.

For more details, see Quill’s report below, and for full racing details, see Peter Hibberd’s report in the sports sections.

Cup Day cut short, but a triumph for Wycheproof

By Quill

On Saturday, people assembled in the thousands, trackside at Mt Wycheproof District Race Club, for Derby Day in the Country and the running of the Elder’s Mt. Wycheproof Cup.

Sadly, it was announced during the racing schedule that the feature race and final race were abandoned due to track safety concerns, amid distinct sounds of disappointment from those in attendance.

It did demonstrate one thing though: the supporters of this event are as resilient as they come and, despite the challenges they face, continue to find a way to celebrate their Derby Day in the Country.

Fans of the Mt. Wycheproof Cup have been literally waiting years for its triumphant return, after cancellations due to flooding impacts and the covid meeting that didn’t allow crowds. At least this year, they were all able to celebrate unaware, up to and after the announcement that would come later in the day – and celebrate they did.

The boisterous crowd was comparative in size to a city race meeting and the only thing loud enough to drown out the sound of thundering gallopers on the track, was the roar of the onlookers. In between races, the volume of conversations lifted in raised voices, trying to catch up with friends and make new ones, above the sound of a thousand others all doing the same.

For a first-time attendee of this event, the magnitude upon arriving is almost overwhelming and to describe in writing, decidedly difficult, so let’s start somewhere quieter, shall we?

Cup fun

Trackside on the lawn, furthest from town, Kelly’s Active Sports had set up an area for the youngest racegoers to cut loose, where it was wonderful to see adults playing as well; engaging with the kids in their care with little games of cricket, footy and a variety of other fun activities before sending their little one off towards the bouncy castle to burn off any excess energy.

After seeing this display of wonderful family fun, one could turn around and look in the opposite direction where the adults’ play area stretched out in long lines of pointed white marquees, punctuated with boutique food and beverage vans, and a stage with a mix of musicians providing popular music throughout the day.

On approach to the bookies’ shed, tantalizing smells wafted over from the Lions’ barbecue and you had to start pushing through a crowd that seemed to get denser the closer one got to the bar areas. The bar itself was under heavy pressure all day and those staffing it are to be commended on such responsible service to their loud and lubricated lot. Though many were clearly under the influence and rowdy at times, it was all in good spirit and fun, with no sign of disrespect to fellow Cup goers.

After the bar area and before you got to the stabling yards, there was situated a very helpful information booth (standing right in front of the middle entry gate) and the lovely TAC ladies distributing funky fun sunglasses and sunscreen to any and all who wanted them.

Behind these booths and in the shade of the race caller’s tower was the Birdcage. In prime location right at the finish post, this elevated area was dedicated to racing committee members visiting from other tracks, to connect with each other and celebrate Derby Day in the Country.

Beyond the post were more marquees before you passed the entrance to the mounting yard and stabling area. And tucked into this corner, things quietened down again. In an almost tranquil setting considering the circumstances, the friendly ladies from Friends of EWHS Wycheproof Campus served country-style luncheon and afternoon tea in the cool comfort of the air-conditioned clubhouse.

Cup crowd

The number of people trackside at Wycheproof on Saturday was astounding. Groups celebrated their own achievements as Wycheproof celebrated its Cup Day, with sporting groups meeting for their end of year party, bucks parties, hen’s parties, family reunions and friends having fun. One big party made up of many smaller, it was no wonder there was a steady rumble of competing conversations. Right on the edge of the marquee city was the Coffey corner, where you could find a number of members of the Coffey family at any given time (though apparently not all at once if you would like to capture a family photo). In support of trainer Austy Coffey, who had horses running on the day, the Coffey tent was right alongside the mounting yards and stabling area, often with a line of men hanging over the fence watching the horses and sharing their collective knowledge of the industry.

Though the crowd was made up of many varied groups and individuals, they shared one thing in common – a festive spirit. Because, despite the obvious disappointment at the cancellation of the feature and final races, there was still much to celebrate.

Cup celebrations

The popular Fashions in the Field was held between races and attracted a long line of elegantly dressed race-goers, presenting a difficult decision for judges, Merv Keane, Jenna Allen and Averyll Loft. To make things easier, Derby Day tradition of black and white was favoured and the following winners decided. Most Elegant Lady of the Day was won by Wycheproof local, Pamela Harrington, wearing a striking black and white hibiscus flower-print A-line dress. To complement her look, she had donned a flattering black fascinator, black bolero, gloves and shoes, a black and white handbag with an elegant string of pearls to complete the ensemble. Winning the Most Stylish Millinery was Nullawil’s Gracie Humphreys setting off her white dress with a blaze of colour, an arrangement of red flowers adorning her head and accentuated by gold leaf detail. Ali Usman from Melbourne was the Best Dressed Gent in emerald slacks with matching hat and vest over a black dress shirt. His autumn-patterned tie set off the wooden cane he was carrying to complete a sharp post-modern look. Best Dressed Junior Racegoers were Jemma Robinson in a simple but classy black dress and matching fascinator, and Florence “Floss” McLennan in a rainbow dress with a joyful, bright headband to accompany.

Of those trackside who did not parade for Fashions in Field, many donned their Derby Day finest, others were seen representing the sports team they were celebrating, while others wore casual, comfortable clothes suited to the gloriously warm weather. Some of the braver attendees even stretched as far as the ridiculous in attire, but regardless of the chosen dress code, all was in good fun and supporting one of Wycheproof’s major events.

Contributions to the Club

Another cause for celebration was the Life Membership awarded to Frank Cummins in honour of his many years of support to the Mt Wycheproof & District Racing Club. He commenced as a volunteer of the club in the early ’70s, significantly involved for a further 44 years in a number of integral roles, including treasurer and timekeeper. It was in front of the extended Cummins family that the Club acknowledged Frank’s invaluable contribution over the years.

As well as long-serving Frank’s contribution, many others should be commended for their contribution to this particular racing club. With only the one event held annually (and that event continually challenged over recent years), the volunteers at this club really go all out to make it a big one! So many local people and businesses were involved to cater to the enormous crowd and the results were simply outstanding. The club would like to thank everyone involved in making the event a success, from volunteers to attendees, and everyone in between.

This magnificent meeting of locals and visitors from near and far was only a taste of what’s to come in the future and is just one of the fantastic attractions contributing to this small town’s global exposure. Well done Wycheproof!

See all the pictures from the event in the issue.
Related story: Wyche Cup – abandoned
This article appeared in The Buloke Times, 7 November 2023.