The Yulong Newmarket Handicap is a time-honoured tradition with 15 horses in the running for the 152nd edition. Among the leading contenders are Group 1 winning mares Benedetta and Joliestar, up against horses such as Arkansaw Kid, with his jockey Craig Newitt aiming for a record four wins in the Yulong Newmarket Handicap.
There is added meaning to the Yulong Newmarket Handicap, with the winning jockey also taking home the Dean Holland Trophy. The special trophy was created in memory of the late Dean Holland who won the 2023 Yulong Newmarket Handicap aboard In Secret.
Other key races are the Group 2 TAB World Pool Kewney Stakes (1600m) where the Crown Oaks winner Treasurethe Moment is a firm favourite, the Group 2 MSS Security Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) with Blue Diamond placegetter Tycoon Star and the TAB Australian Cup Prelude (2000m) featuring Caulfield Cup winner Duke De Sessa.
FEAST by Melbourne Food and Wine Festival adds an extra dimension to the day with a precinct on the front lawn full of delectable bites from Spanish Tapas at MoVida, bold Argentinian flavours from San Telmo, Italian from Tipo 00 and Lee Ho Fook's famous Chinese cuisine.
The precinct also hosts kids' activities and across the day, racegoers can buy tickets for the Good Friday Appeal raffle. All proceeds support The Royal Children’s Hospital’s ground-breaking research, state-of-the-art equipment, and family centered care programs.
In recognition of International Women’s Day, The Victorian Wakeful Club will host its annual ‘Lady of Racing’ award to acknowledge outstanding females in the racing industry. Nominees include the VRC’s Racing Stakeholder Executive, Rebecca Cassar, Managing Director - Kick Collective, Vicky Leonard, and trainer, Gwenda Johnstone.