Chamber race day is a clear winner

By Shaun Inguanzo
THE Greater Dandenong Community Race Day was a galloping success last Saturday despite the threat of rain spoiling the festivities.
Race-goers along with Greater Dandenong’s business community flocked to Sandown for an afternoon of quality racing.
The day was organised by the Greater Dandenong Chamber of Commerce, and was highlighted not only by the eight races that took place, but also by its Committee Room function.
Chamber of Commerce members, along with City of Greater Dandenong council and Melbourne Racing Club representatives enjoyed a luncheon and a few drinks while welcoming in a new year of racing at Sandown.
Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy, who suffered a fall during last year’s Spring Carnival, was the clear winner of the Greater Dandenong Cup aboard Gypsy Battalia.
The ride marked Sandown as McEvoy’s perfect farewell before flying to Dubai for a taste of international racing.
McEvoy even stopped by the Committee Room where he spoke to Greater Dandenong’s business community with a little help from Master of Ceremonies, former jockey Peter Hutchinson.
An unusual addition to the day’s proceedings was a visit by snake handler Stacey McCarthy who brought with her a three-metre long Olive Python by the name of Emerald, which neatly wrapped itself around Chamber of Commerce president Renae MacNamara.
Ms McCarthy also brought a two-year-old salt-water crocodile, which, even in its infancy, was capable of tearing “flesh from the bone” with its tiny teeth, and hence had a rubber band around its jaw while the Chamber’s members petted it.