Warrnambool Racing Club will run a COVID-safe event on Sunday afternoon for the $304,000 Jericho Cup, backed by the Victorian Government.
The meeting is a salute to best and bravest Australia has seen, with the club honouring the nation's famous Light Horsemen and their mounts.
The Jericho Cup is one of the key events on the Country Racing Victoria calendar, and on Friday morning, Minister for Racing Martin Pakula announced the State Government is allocating over $18,000 from the Victoria Racing Industry Fund to Warrnambool to help support the event.
“The Jericho Cup has quickly become a must-see event for racing fans and a significant day to honour veterans and their sacrifices,” Pakula said.
“We're proud to help racing clubs like Warrnambool welcome back crowds on course”
As part of the race day, anyone who has served in Australia's armed forces can enter the course free of charge if they show their veteran's card at the gates.
The race was first run in Warrnambool in 2018 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the original Jericho Cup – the feature race of a desert meeting organised by the Light Horsemen to distract the enemy ahead of a major campaign.
Warrnambool Racing Club and Country Racing Victoria are contributing $50,000 between them, with a significant portion of the money going towards making the event COVID-safe.
The meeting will be held with no cap on patrons, with all people on course required to be double vaccinated unless a medical exemption applies.
Warrnambool Racing Club Chair Steven Waterhouse has welcomed the support from the Andrews Government.
“We're grateful for the Government's support; and can't wait to welcome patrons for a great day of racing and a celebration of our magnificent Light Horsemen and their horses,” he said.
The Jericho Cup is set to jump at 4:55pm AEDT, with Wil John for Ciaron Maher & David Eustace the $2.40 favourite with online bookmakers.