100 years ago today... A record crowd defied the strong winds to cram into the new Cranbourne Racecourse on Thursday, 14 October 1926. More than twelve months prior, the club embarked on a program of improvements that saw the track extended to around eight-furlongs (1600m), fully grassed, extensively fenced and with a new grandstand, administrative buildings, mounting yard and bird cage. Mr A. T. Cresswick officially opened the course while Mrs J H. White, wife of club chairman Mr H. White, cut the string of ribbons to the cheers of the crowd. The opening race, the Clyde Maiden Plate, was won by odds on favourite REPELLERE, while the feature race, the Cranbourne Handicap, was won by 7/1 chance BUCK CHIEF by a neck over the favourite, ARTAMUS. Interestingly, BUCK CHIEF's owners, Messrs H. and M. Bourke would themselves celebrate the opening of the new Pakenham Racecourse just two months later ahead of the inaugural running of the Pakenham Cup. The race is on to the 2026 @ladbrokescomau Cranbourne Cup! Get your Early Bird General Admission tickets for just $25 👉 bit.ly/2026LadbrokesCranbour…

Ride on board with Jamie Melham and SHEZA ALIBI in a @HygainRacing jumpout on the Southside Pakenham course proper this morning! Replays from all of this morning's jumpouts are now online at racing.com.