The fifth running of the $1 million ‘The Hunter’ will take place this Saturday (18th November) headlining an exciting 10-race metropolitan stand-alone meeting at Newcastle Racecourse with total prizemoney exceeding $2.5 million.
The Newcastle Herald Hunter, a 1300m race for top class sprinters, is quickly becoming a race of the highest quality with last year's winner being the James Cummings-trained Vilana who is a multiple Group winner.
The Newcastle Herald Hunter will be supported by several feature races on the program including the Group 3-New Zealand Bloodstock Spring Stakes for three-year-olds over 1600m, the $300,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Beauford for the stayers over 2300m and the NZB Max Lees Classic for two-year-olds over 900m.
A new exciting partnership between Racing NSW, Newcastle Racecourse and The Newcastle Herald for The Hunter is a great coup for the club that will see increased exposure for the event in the lead-up which will no doubt generate even bigger interest and crowds on the day.
New Zealand Bloodstock and its partners will sponsor 8 of the 10 races on the program with another race, The Alf Kneebone Trans-Tasman Trophy, lining New Zealand trainers up against their Australian counterparts for bragging rights over 1850m.
Last year, the race was taken out by the Gregory Hickman-trained Rondino meaning it is 1-all between the Aussies and Kiwis since the race's inception two years ago.
"We are most thankful to New Zealand Bloodstock for their ongoing support and are excited to welcome The Newcastle Herald to be part of this day as well," said NJC's Chief Executive, Duane Dowell.
Plenty of activations are planned for the day to enhance the raceday experience for patrons including entertainment after the last race by the well renowned Sneaky Sound System.
Fashions on the Field, live music across the precinct and locally themed food and beverage offerings will complement a great social day out for racegoers.
Duane Dowell went on to say the Hunter Raceday will provide another welcome boost to the region and enable the club to showcase what's great about Newcastle and the Hunter Valley.
"Newcastle and the Hunter has so much to offer visitors and we hope this event provides widespread benefit to the Hunter economy, especially the hospitality sector with increased visitation to our region.
"We also want Novocastrians and Hunter people to embrace this day as their raceday with much of our marketing around that notion - 'Our Region, Our Town, Our Race …. The Hunter!"
The day is best described by Racing NSW's CEO Peter V'Landys AM who said, "The Hunter Raceday has quickly become Newcastle's version of The Everest!"
