Community
24 April, 2025
Large crowds again expected at carnival
CLOSE to 30,000 racegoers are expected to flock to Warrnambool over the three days of the 2025 May Racing Carnival.
With more than 12,500 expected on Thursday alone, the highly-anticipated event again looks set to boost the local economy.
Based on previous year’s figures, it is anticipated that in excess of 5,500 patrons will enjoy ‘package experiences’ across the three days – which amounts to more than 30,000 food items served.
This doesn’t include the volume of food sold through on-course vendors; and drinks will also flow throughout the carnival, with patrons eager to enjoy their day/s out.
Warrnambool’s May Racing Carnival is one of Australia’s hallmark country racing events.
The carnival gives racegoers the opportunity to view Australasia’s premier jumps horses, immerse in the thrill of country racing, be inspired by autumn race fashions and enjoy unmatched local hospitality.
Positioned in the heart of town, just two kilometres from the CBD, the Warrnambool Racecourse has been home to racing since 1847.
The carnival is a celebration of country racing and features 22 flat races and eight jumps races, including the internationally acclaimed Grand Annual Steeplechase, first held in 1982, and remains the longest and most celebrated of its kind in Australia.
This year’s May Racing Carnival will honour three Warrnambool Racing Club life members who passed away in the past 12 months.
Margaret Lucas, Colin McKenna and John Rule were all significant contributors to the club across a long period of time, and each will have a race named in their honour.
The races, which are tied to long-running sponsorships connected to the respective families, will be named the Margaret Lucas Galleywood Hurdle, the Colin McKenna Midfield Group Wangoom Handicap, and the John Rule Champion Novice Hurdle.
Margaret Lucas passed away at the age of 77 in December after a battle with cancer.
She is the only ever female chairman of the WRC, a champion of jumps racing, and played a massive part in ensuring the sport wasn’t banned in Victoria in 2008 and 2009.
Colin McKenna is a renowned businessman who passed away last October at the age of 74 after a short illness.
He was a generous philanthropist with deep links to the racing community.
John Rule, who died at 92 last August, was also a well-known and respected businessman, a former chairman of the club and was on the committee for 27 years.
Adding another special element to this year’s carnival, Warrnambool Racing Club chairman Mark McNamara announced that a $50,000 bonus would be paid to the connections of any horse that won the Brierly Steeplechase-Grand Annual Steeplechase double.
