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Warrnambool Grand Annual Racing Carnival
When too much racing, isn't enough
The
Warrnambool Grand Annual Racing Carnival is one of handful
of landmark events that goes beyond just a sporting event
to become a major social and cultural event in this region.
Events such as the Melbourne Cup and AFL Grand Final are probably
good examples, albeit on a larger scale. The Warrnambool Grand
Annual Racing Carnival manages to attract people who normally
would not go to another race meeting for the rest of the year,
it also attracts students in fancy dress, ladies in haute
couture dresses and big hats plus a generous sprinkling of
men in top hats, and in the words of one local identity "it
attracts the needy, greedy and the seedy".
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Accommodation
Despite
the downturn in horse racing the Warrnambool Grand Annual
Racing Carnival still attract large numbers of people and
accommodation in the city has been being booked out months
in advance. There will still be a few vacant beds available
as cancellations can and do occur, so it is a good idea to
phone the local visitor information centre ( 03 5559 4620)
or use our inquiry form on the Warrnambool
Accommodation Page
The alternative is to try for accommodation in Port Fairy,
Terang or Mortlake as they are only about 30 minutes away-
if you use the inquiry form on on the Warrnambool Accommodation
page and put May Races in the comments box, the inquiries
will also be directed to the above towns.
Events
The May Racing carnival is a week long affair for many
long term visitors and would typically start on the Monday
and finish on Friday
Monday - for the serious racegoer a
round of Golf at the Warrnambool Golf Clubs May Racing Carnival
Week of Golf is a good way to start the week, or a day of
sight seeing
Tuesday - 5th May - Day 1 is Ladies
Day', with the popular Ladies Luncheon and the feature race
for Tuesday, the '3YB Scotty Stewart Brierly Steeplechase'.
Tuesday night a quick drive to Terang for the Harness racing
and to see the running of the "Dan O'Grady Memorial"
and a bit of a punt.
Wednesday 6th May - Day 2 Wednesday
is a racing enthusiasts day with two of Australia's premiere
regional races. The 1200m 'Scott Petroleum Wangoom Handicap'
and the 'Sungold Milk Galleywood Hurdle'.
Wednesday night, its off to the dogs with running of the Warrnambool
Cup for Greyhounds, "Macey's Bistro Warrnambool Classic"
Thursday Day
3- The main day of the carnival and a public holiday in Warrnambool.
There's something for everyone on Thursday, the running of
Grand Annual Steeplechase over 5.5 kms and also the 'Warrnambool
Cup', plus Fashions on the Field competition which boasts
a prize pool in excess of $18,000. There is also a variety
of kids entertainment and hospitality packages
Friday Finish off the week with a round
of Golf at the Warrnambool Golf Clubs May Racing Carnival
Week of Golf, or spend some of your winnings with a bit of
retail therapy in some of Warrnambool's shops
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Entertainment
During the heyday of the
May Racing Carnival ( in the 70's ) and at a time when drink
driving was a pastime rather than offense, the city literally
rocked, nearly every hotel ran some form of entertainment
on the three nights, however times have changed and possibly
racegoers are getting older and wiser. Today most of the entertainment
is confined to the cities restaurants, with the exception
of Mickey Bourkes hotel in Koroit. So if you are looking for
a bit of musical entertainment a a bit of a "knees up"
then a night at "Bourkies" is just what you need.
The Truth About "The
Bool"
in the last year or so someone at the Warrnambool Racing Club
as come up with the bright idea that they should try to rebrand
the Warrnambool Racing Carnival to "The Bool" in
a contrived attempt to mimic the way the MCG is now sometimes
called "The G", however they haven't quite thought
out the concept properly as "The Bool" looks OK
in print but when you speak it sounds like the cry of a lovesick
walrus or someone who is about to vomit, in either case not
an attractive mental picture.
Thankfully the concept hasn't caught on ( for obvious reasons
), so in a new effort the club have recently made an attempt
to justify the name by trying to convince everyone that all
the locals call it "The Bool" (which they don't),
so if you come to Warrnambool you shouldn't start calling
it "The Bool" as you will probably look a bit of
an idiot.
No one, I repeat NO ONE (apart from those who only understand
words of two syllables or less ) ever calls Warrnambool, "The
Bool".
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Warrnambool
at a glance
Population - 30,000
Location - 280km West of Melbourne
Description -Coastal city and economic centre of the
Western district of Victoria - major industries include farming
( predominantly dairy ) plus manufacturing and tourism
Newspaper - Warrnambool
Standard ( daily)
Radio - AM -3YB 882
Khz FM Coast FM 101.3Mhz Community Radio 3WAY
FM - ABC AM 1602 Khz
Transport - Rail (
daily service) Air Sharp Aviation (daily) Bus
daily services to most surrounding towns
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Warrnambool Information
In
the words of one tourist operator "If Warrnambool was
5 degrees warmer there would be a million people living
here!" The cities natural attractions of wide sandy
beaches two major rivers and surrounded by some of Australia's
most fertile country have helped create a bustling coastal
city with a strong economy and vibrant social structure.
Despite its size in comparison with surrounding towns, Warrnambool
has managed to retain its country friendliness
Warrnambool's central business district encompasses a comprehensive
range of retail shopping, service industries, plus restaurants
and entertainment venues. The majority of the restaurants
entertainment venues and are located close to the Performing
Arts Centre at the bottom end of Liebig St - at last count
there are about thirty restaurants within 100 metres of
the PAC.
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Lake
Pertobe
Mini Golf
open 7 days a week from 10 AM to 4 PM
close to the beach on Pertobe Road Warrnambool
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Accommodation
Warrnambool's accommodation is located in three areas - The
traditional seaside holiday accommodation is provided in two
council, and one privately operated caravan park, plus in the
last two years there has been a proliferation of serviced apartments
close to the beach.
The CBD now has a growing number of apartments that provide
easy access to entertainment and restaurants plus are within
a kilometer of the beach (with some having sea views) and Motel
style accommodation which accounts for the majority of beds
is located on, and close to the highway. |
Attractions
Built
in the 1970's when historic villages were the answer to attracting
tourists, Flagstaff Hill maritime museum is Warrnambool's contribution
to this tourist phenomenon. The village consists of a number
of static displays depicting life in a 19th century coastal
town plus a number of museum exhibits covering local maritime
history . Flagstaff Hill has recently added a new 3D Laser sound
and light show which tells the story of the wreck of the Loch
Ard nearly a century ago. The show runs after sunset. Allow
at least 3 to 4 hours to see Flagstaff Hill |
| Warrnambool's
main summer attraction is the beach, a 4 kilometer strip of
white sand that runs from the Warrnambool breakwater to the
mouth of the Hopkins river. The construction of a breakwater
in the early 1900's did little to improve the port facilities
but did manage to silt up the bay creating a nice safe swimming
beach which attracts thousands of visitors over the holiday
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