Magic Millions SA race day draws a well-dressed crowd

Hundreds of people have flocked to Gifford Hill for one of the most glamourous events on the local events calendar.

Magic Millions SA race day is the richest on Murray Bridge Racing Club’s schedule each year, with more than $200,000 worth of prize money on the line in the feature race.

Ben and J.D. Hayes-trained favourite Tacito won the two-year-old classic with Jake Toeroek aboard, while Kayla Crowther and Stupendo took out the three- and four-year-old classic.

Trackside, racegoers kept hydrated, checked the form guide, won and lost fortunes and generally soaked up the sunshine, dressed to the nines all the while.

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Work continues on $13 million racing development

Meanwhile, visitors would have noticed plenty more going on at the racecourse besides racing.

Construction of six new barns, an equine swimming pool and other facilities for trainers is now 80 per cent complete.

The $13 million site upgrade will allow 164 horses to be stabled on site.

Manager John Buhagiar said the racing club had already had enough interest from trainers to fill those spaces and dozens more besides.

Gary and Dean Alexander would become the first of many trainers to move in in a couple of months’ time, he said.

“Some of them are new clients to South Australian racing and they are going to grow the business,” Mr Buhagiar said.

“They are people that are going to bring more product to get spread throughout the whole industry, and we can see this place training multiple group winners.

“It’s got everything going for it.”

Racing SA estimated that, when complete, the Gifford Hill development would generate $63 million worth of economic activity, and 100 jobs, within its first five years of operation.

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