Tambo Valley Picnic Races Victorian thoroughbred racing is rooted in the picnic racing tradition operating out of relaxing country locations throughout the state. Mainly run by volunteer community based racing clubs, picnic races contribute financially and socially to the local community, and attending a day at the picnic races has become a tradition for many. The picnic racing circuit also provides an invaluable opportunity for trainers, owners, and riders to get a start in the industry, and to expand their skills and experience. Despite the relaxed country atmosphere, picnic races are fiercely contested and provide all the thrills and pageantry you could want from a great day at the races. The Tambo Valley Racing Club is proud to be part of Victoria’s picnic racing tradition. The Tambo Valley Picnic Races take place just 2 km north of the small East Gippsland town of Swifts Creek every Easter Sunday. Set in the magnificent foothills of the Australian Alps – true ‘Man from Snowy River’ country – it is a unique and must-see event. Alpine racing – just magic! |
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Panoramic view of the Tambo Valley racecourse (click to enlarge). Photo: John O'Neill |
Track information Bring yourself up here when the races are not taking place and you'll find a bucolic scene of herds of cattle grazing the track and infield in the lee of the hills under a majestic clean sky. You may also notice the windsock in the infield of the course being lightly blown by a pure mountain breeze, an indication that the level surface of the racecourse doubles as the town's emergency airfield. The track has a gently undulating surface, with starting points for 1,000m, 1,200m, and 1,600m races. Track records |
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Distance | Horse | Time | Date | |
1,000m | No Other Player | 56.48s | 12 March 2001 | |
1,200m | Tawny Bird | 1min 10.70s | 13 March 2006 | |
1,600m | Seaton Groom | 1min 39.00s | 13 March 1995 | |
History |
The Stockman by S.T. Gill, (c1855). Rural workers such as stockmen were outstanding horsemen, and many country racing events were born from their competitive spirit. |
Origin of the Tambo Valley Racing Club Some time later they were relocated to Jim Gibson’s property just north of the Swifts Creek township, on an attractive piece of flat land between the highway and the Tambo River. This land is now owned by the Richardson family, and remains the present location of the Tambo Valley racecourse. |
Archer (c1861). Winner of the first two Melbourne Cups, Archer made his start on the country racing circuits in the late 1850s. |
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Other Racing Clubs in the District The Ensay Racing Club held meetings at the Ensay Sports Ground, 17 km south of Swifts Creek. This club survived until 1912, but was forced to fold when the club treasurer vanished with the entire takings following that year’s races – all of ten pounds! The races never ran again, but some history of the event can still be seen at Ensay’s historic Little River Inn. Cassilis, 10 km north-west of Swifts Creek, which is now just a locality with a few scattered houses, hosted a large population during its gold mining heyday. In addition to its football and other clubs, it was also able to support a racing club. A rapid and severe drop in the population as the mines closed saw all its clubs fold in the early years of the twentieth century. The major town in the region, Omeo, 27 km north of Swifts Creek, also had their own racing club. The Omeo & District Racing Club was established in 1876, with a track set out at Hinnomunjie between the towns of Omeo and Benambra. This club still operates today, with their annual Hinnomunjie Picnic Races held on the Saturday of the Labour Day long weekend. |
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Tambo Valley Racing Club today The name Tambo Valley Racing Club and the Tambo Valley Picnic Races recognise not just the long history of racing at Swifts Creek, but serves as a representation of all the communities throughout the Tambo Valley, past and present. |
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Hard fought racing on a dry track in 2006. Photo: flagstaffotos |