Cup is in luck

A WEEK of celebrations and activities will mark this year’s Pakenham Telstra Store Cup Day.
The Pakenham Racing Club has expanded the Cup celebrations with an action packed lead-up to the Cup, which will be held on Sunday 6 March, including a Corporate Golf Day, Breakfast with the Stars and a Calcutta auction – all in the name of racing.
Club chairman Don Duffy said the week-long festivities were designed to allow more of the community to get involved in celebrating the region’s premier event.
“The Pakenham Telstra Store Cup is the Club’s flagship race boasting $100,000 in prize money and with its rich history it deserves this sort of recognition,” Mr Duffy said.
“By creating a Cup Week rather than just a Cup Day, we are aiming to really showcase what the Pakenham Telstra Store Cup is all about,” he said.
“It also allows a greater reach into the community also with some who can’t make the actual Cup Day able to still participate.”
The Cup Corporate Golf Day will kick off the celebrations on Friday 25 February at Cardinia Beaconhills Golf Links with an Ambrose-style tournament teeing off at 1pm.
The Golf Day, presented by the Pakenham Telstra Business Centre and the House of Golf Pakenham, costs $90 per person including lunch, welcome bag, round of golf, some drinks, and the chance to win a slew of great prizes.
The corporate culture will continue with the Cardinia Shire’s Business Breakfast to take place on the lawns of the Pakenham Racing Club on Thursday, 3 March.
The breakfast will be overlooking the final preparations of the horses training on the track and has also been given a boost from the Pakenham Telstra Business Centre as the major partner.
Making its return to the Cup festivities is the Pakenham Telstra Store Cup Calcutta Auction on Friday night, 4 March in the Pakenham Racing Club Committee Room.
The night, hosted by racing guru Dave Whelan, will be a two-course dinner and the traditional Calcutta Auction, including a phantom call of the race.
Tickets are $55 per person, with drinks at bar prices.
The club has also thrown a massive $4500 in prizes behind a shop window competition for the Pakenham, Lakeside and Berwick retail hot-spots.
The first prize will be a fully-catered Corporate Marquee Package for 30 people at the race track’s TAB Christmas Raceday on Friday, 2 December 2011.
For all information on events for the Pakenham Telstra Store Cup week see www.pakracing.com.au or call the Pakenham Racing Club on 5941 1207.