Slot race still on Cranbourne agenda | RACING.COM – Racing.com

Cranbourne boss Neil Bainbridge says he still has ambitions of a rich slot race on the club’s Cup day.
It’s not the first time the club has discussed the possibility of a slot race with the idea not materialising in time for this year’s meeting, however Bainbridge said it was on the agenda again for 2024.
Bainbridge said the idea for the slot race would see horses trained at Cranbourne at Pakenham eligible to run in it. The two clubs announced earlier in the spring their intention to merge, subject to a members’ vote.
Pakenham and Cranbourne is home to about one-third of the state’s horse population.
The Lester – named after industry icon Deane – could potentially become the new slot race. The race was run over 2000m on Saturday, but Bainbridge said the club would discuss the race’s distance with Racing Victoria if it was to turn into a slot race.
“We are certainly understanding that as a club we need to continue to evolve our Cup day,” Bainbridge told After The Last.
“We put submissions to Racing Victoria prior to this year’s spring carnival that we would like to see the cup achieve $1m. We put submissions in there about a slot race being a part of this year’s Cranbourne Cup.
“Those ideas were quite receptive with them. The slot race had a lot of interest from Racing Victoria. 
“What happened a little bit on that one is we had a bit of a short runway this year. We are absolutely keen to ramp that up for 2024.”
Bainbridge said there was a “great appetite” from participants for a slot race on Cranbourne Cup day.
He added the slots would be open to anyone to purchase, but the horses in the race would have to be trained at Pakenham or Cranbourne.
WATCH: Neil Bainbridge on After The Last

source