Why you should attend the Melbourne Cup heats

Tuesday, 21 Nov, 2023,
by Gerard Guthrie

Why you should attend the Melbourne Cup heats

It’s widely regarded as the best night of greyhound racing on the Australian calendar – bar none.

For those thoroughbred-inclined among the racing fraternity, think Derby Day at Flemington or Golden Slipper Day at Rosehill.

What better reason to experience the fastest sport on four legs than heats of the Group 1 Sportsbet Melbourne Cup (515m), which headline ‘Night Three’ of the $4.1 million Sportsbet Dream Chasers Festival.

Make no mistake, the Sportsbet Melbourne Cup is greyhound racing’s Holy Grail.

And in Saturday night’s heats it’s all or nothing.

With eight ‘must win’ heats, featuring the best 64 sprinters in the land, there are no second chances, with the winners earning a shot at canine immortality in Saturday week’s (December 2) $1 million Melbourne Cup Final.

And for lovers of distance racing, Sandown will also host heats of the Group 1 Bold Trease (715m) on Saturday night.

FLASHBACK: “Yachi Bale charges into the Cup!” YACHI BALE (B7) put the writing on the wall when storming to victory in his 2022 Melbourne Cup heat, before winning the final a week later.

WHAT’S HAPPENING ON MELBOURNE CUP HEAT NIGHT

Gates open from 5:30pm, first race at 6:34pm
FREE General Admission entry
Opt for the $20 Club Shout package, which includes a stubby holder, 3 standard drinks and a $10 food truck voucher
Join a mega night of racing, raffles, live Calcutta auction, buffet dining and entertainment in the View Room from $45
Or take in all the action from the trackside First Place Marquee, including 4-hr beverage package, food, live music entertainment and TV broadcast screens for just $100
In between all the action on the track, DJ Jarrad Lees will keep the vibes high with his unmissable DJ/Sax performance
Roaming entertainers throughout the night
Food trucks
Giant screens so you don’t miss a second of the action

Still six amazing prizes up for grabs in the Chase Your Dream Promotion, including 3 x $10,000 cash and $5,000 fuel and grocery vouchers

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WIN A SHARE IN $100,000 IN CASH & PRIZES

Be on course at any of the three remaining Dream Chasers events for your chance to share in more than $100,000 worth of cash and prizes.

This Saturday, simply scan the QR code at the Sportsbet tent for your chance to win.

Terms and Conditions at www.dreamchasersfestival.com.au

WATCH: Matthew from Hadfield won the sporting experience of a lifetime in LA on Topgun night. Read more

WATCH: Theresa from Garfield won a fully catered corporate suite at Marvel Stadium on Shootout night. Read more

2023 Dream Chasers: Upcoming events

Be on course for your chance to win

Saturday 25 November: Sportsbet Melbourne Cup Heats, Sandown Park
Saturday 2 December: Sportsbet Melbourne Cup Final, Sandown Park
Saturday 16 December: The Phoenix, The Meadows

Remaining prizes include a 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander, $10,000 cash, $5,000 fuel and grocery vouchers plus more.

Gerard Guthrie

One of Australia’s leading greyhound racing journalists since 2000 with the Greyhound Recorder and now with Greyhound Racing Victoria. Part-owner 2013 Group 1 Paws Of Thunder winner Sheikha. (The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of GRV)