While it won’t match the tens of thousands who will flock to Flemington for the race that stops a nation, Moruya Jockey Club manager Brian Cowden said the day would be well supported and the club expected at least 2000 people through the gates. 

“The bookings are really strong as we should have lots of marquees and groups, plus individual spectators,” Cowden said.

“It should be a big crowd out there.”

Five races are on the card with Moruya-based horses filling up the fields.

Cowden said maximum fields of eight would be a realistic expectation as available jockeys were hard to find.

“It’s still hard to get jockeys on a Melbourne Cup day but the local horses have supported the meeting well,” he said.

“There’s a few really good looking races and the locals should dominate.”

The horses will face no issues on the track as Moruya’s turf is up to standard for the big day.

“The track’s excellent, it’s in really good condition,” Cowden said.

“We’ll water it once, we’re expecting a couple of millimetres on the weekend but by Tuesday it will be great.”

The off-track festivities will keep punters just as occupied as the on-track action.

A giant screen will be set-up to watch the Melbourne races on and the fashions on the field competition for men and women will be a drawcard.

As for the big race Cowden had his eyes set on a foreign horse, Araldo, to take out the Cup.

“It’s been out here about 18 months getting acclimatised and it’s proven over the distance,” he said.

“He’s only had 18 or 19 career starts so it’s been well managed and well looked after and it looked good in the Caulfield Cup.

“Araldo is the value runner I can see in the field.”

On October 24, the Moruya Jockey Club held its inaugural awards night at the racecourse.

The night gave members a chance to get together at the height of the spring racing carnival to toast the past season’s award winners.

Cowden said it was a special night enjoyed by more than 70 people.

“It was great to see Lynda Bundy win her first trainer’s premiership anywhere, and she was really excited,” he said.