The Great Western Cup is the only race the Great Western Racing Club hosts on an annual basis.

Club manager Penny Penfold said the event was the biggest the club had held so far. 

“It was probably the biggest attendance we have had in three years,” she said. 

“We had ideal weather for the race day which was off the back of quite extreme temperatures, so we were quite fortunate with the weather we were dealt with. 

“We had a good turnout which is great and we were up on previous year’s which is what we always look for and that was really good.” 

It was also a good day for Stawell-based trainers Deanne Taylor and Dan Smith, who both won their respective races. 

Taylor’s horse Time Tunnel won race three of the day in the Ian Kilpatrick Memorial Maiden Plate, and was ridden by jockey Luke Williams. 

It was then back to back wins from Stawell as Smith’s horse Our Dexter, ridden by jockey Teodore Nugent, came first in race four in the Best's Eric Thomson Memorial Trophy BM58 Handicap. 

In the main race – the Seppelt Great Western Cup, trainer Patrick Payne’s horse Strategic Diamond came first. It was followed by Zebrinz, trained by Aaron Purcell; while Finn Mccool, trained by Dane Smith, came in third. 

With only one race being held at the club each year, it means the club can update its facilities to make the event an unmissable one. 

“Our whole year is geared towards improving and making our race day the best it can be,” she said. 

“Previously there was very limited infrastructure at the racecourse so where we used to host our corporate guests, sponsors and members compared to what it was on Sunday it’s quite an improvement.

“We have also had plastic rails installed in the inside of the race track and it is a big improvement in participant safety and we were really thrilled to have a plastic rails.” 

One thing that makes the Great Western Cup standout on its own is the boat race. 

The boat race allows race goers to sign up in a team of four and participants get to run down the Great Western straight in a make shift boat which is done in between some of the races. 

Penfold said it was just a bit of fun. 

“The boat race is just something that we thought could create a bit of interest outside the usual racing enthusiast,” she said. 

Although the 2019 event was now over, Penfold said planning for next year’s event had already begun.

“We are all systems go already,” she said.