The inaugural Halls Gap Cup will be staged this Friday as part of the Stawell Racing Club’s Women in Country Racing raceday. Pictured gearing up for the Halls Gap Cup are Stawell Racing Club Operations Manager Penny Penfold (second from right) with sponsors L-R Gavin Hogan, Stephen Odgers, David Sears, Leigh and Steve Johnston and Geoff Watts. Picture: BEN KIMBER
HALLS GAP - The countdown continues towards the running of the inaugural Halls Gap Cup, which will be held at the Stawell Racecourse this Friday.
The Halls Gap Cup will be the feature of the Stawell Racing Club's Women in Country Racing raceday.
Halls Gap Tourism Chair Geoff Watts said the eight-race program will attract locals, regular punters and holiday makers.
"We are hoping that people will come to Halls Gap for a couple of nights and make a real trip of it," he said.
"Visitors will be able to experience the best of both worlds, time relaxing in the beautiful Grampians and then a big day out at the races in Stawell.
A bus will run from Halls Gap to Stawell leaving the township at 11.30am on the day.
It will stop at Pomonal at 11.45am and Lake Fyans at 11.50am.
It will make a return trip following the last race of the day.
A number of local businesses have got behind the day.
They are the Views Restaurant, Kookaburra Motor Lodge, D'Altons Resort, Quarry Restaurant and Parkgate Resort.
Mr Watts said he hopes that this year's Halls Gap Cup will be the first of many.
"Hopefully next year we can get funding from the VRC (Victorian Racing Club) and attract a greater field of horses," he said.