Easter Cup a great night at the track

By Matthew Kappos

Apr 22, 2025

Formerly huge outsider Alcatraz Girl surged both in the betting markets and on the track, coming in from $81 to win race one at the Echuca Harness Racing Club’s Easter Cup at $4.40. Photos: Matthew Kappos.

One of the major harness events on the local calendar, Echuca Harness Racing Club held its annual Easter Cup meet on Sunday night.

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With entry free, a good crowd made its way down to the Frank Ryan Raceway on Simmie St for the eight-race card, kicking off from 5.30pm, with plenty of on and off-track entertainment present at the event.

A good crowd turned out from dusk for the start of the Easter Cup meet. Photo by Matthew Kappos

In the feature race (five), the eponymous Byford Equipment Easter Cup, the Alex Ashwood-driven Tooram Cee Cee stormed home by several lengths to score the win for Elmore trainer Keith Cotchin.

There was also local success in race six, the Rich River Golf Club Pace, where Lockington trainer Ted Jepsen’s Soho Playgirl was a clear winner, Laura Wilson driving home the hot $2 favourite.

PaigetheHurricane and driver George Schembri hit the mounting yard before race one. Photo by Matthew Kappos

The punters' favourite would likely have been the race one winner, Alcatraz Girl.

The mare opened as a rank outsider at $81, but by race time, had firmed heavily to just $4.40 when it took the opening race by 2.5m.

Kids enjoyed the ducks, lambs, goats, rabbits, calves and more at the petting zoo. Photo by Matthew Kappos

Anyone who jumped on fixed odds at $81 will be quite a bit richer after the win.

Marketed as a family event, the off-track entertainment was a hit with the kids, with the jumping castle and petting zoo popular from the moment the gates opened.