Benalla Racing Club e hopes to increase attends ances at this years Gold Cup by a third to 15 000 people, with $133 000 to be spent on promoting the event which this year is being held on the recently announced inaugural AFL Grand Final public holiday on Friday, October 2. The BRC will put on an t AFL-themed day to show, case its premier raceday , with past AFL greats and t media personalities Danny e Spud Frawley, Cameron Mooney and Nathan Brown e attending as event s ambassadors. y A headline musical act will perform after the final r siren has blown on the u days races. A football mare quee will also be set up r especially for the day. e The Labor Government is providing $66 000 to the 0 event from the Victorian Racing Industry Funds , (VRIF) Raceday Attraction r Program, with the Benalla y Racing Club contributing $67 200. Racing Minister Martin Pakula announced the funding boost at the Benalla track last week and said, as a Carlton supporter, he wouldnt be going to the grand final and just might make the trip to Benalla for the Gold Cup. The AFL Grand Final public holiday is fitting recognition of one of Australias biggest sporting events and its fantastic to see the Benalla Racing Club embrace it. The Benalla Gold Cup race meeting is a perfect start to the long weekend and a great incentive for Victorians to discover everything that Benalla has to offer, he said. Benalla Racing Club treasurer Tony Smith told the Minister the club was hoping for much larger attendances. Were looking at 15 000 people on the day. Last year we had about 10 000. The club has already received record bookings a month out from the event and expects bookings to increase during the coming weeks. CORRECTION The Ensign apologises for a mistake in last weeks edition. The manager of Bendigo Bank in Benalla is Jenny Lee; the person in the photograph was service supervisor Brett Moloney. The Ensign apologises for any confusion. Caption Text: Place your bets: Benalla Rural City Mayor Justin King, council chief executive officer Tony McIlroy, Victorian Racing Minister Martin Pakula, Benalla Racing Club vicechairman Guy Mounsey, Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes and Benalla Racing Club treasurer Tony Smith.