31 Aug 2018 Wangaratta Chronicle, Wangaratta VIC (General News) Horse racing events in city to be boosted by $171,000 LIVE jazz music will make its way to Wangarattas Melbourne Cup Day race meet this year, just one of the attractions supported by $171,000 in funding this spring and summer. The State Government will provide $73,000 to help stage race day attractions at five Launch Through to Summer 2018-19 series meets. It will kick off with the Seniors Raceday on Monday next week, with 50 per cent off dining packages available to the first 100 patrons. Coupled with the Agricultural Raceday on Monday, September 17, the Wangaratta Turf Club will celebrate the local community, and showcase its history since 1845 with a range of historical and memorabilia displays. The annual Melbourne Cup Day meeting will run on Tuesday, November 6, following the Wangaratta Jazz and Blues Festival from November 2 to 4, with a live jazz music ensemble and a Fashions on the Field competition. Families can get into the festive spirit on Saturday, December 15 for the Twilight Christmas Party Raceday, with a live music cover band and a visit from Santa. The Aussie Family Raceday will close out the series on Saturday, January 5, 2019. A large inflatable waterpark will give families the opportunity to make the most of the warmer weather during the summer school holidays. The last three meetings in the series will provide a range of kids activities, including arts and crafts, sports, pony rides and a jumping castle. Free shuttle buses will transport racegoers from Bright, Myrtleford, Porepunkah, Beechworth, Albury, Wodonga, Corowa, Rutherglen, Mulwala, Cobram, Yarrawonga, Bundalong and Benalla. Launch Through to Summer is a great, new way for the community to get involved in racing, Jaclyn Symes (MLC, Northern Victoria) said. Labor is investing in the racing industry because it offers great entertainment for country communities and helps boost local jobs and tourism. Wangaratta Turf Club is providing more than $84,000 towards the racing series, with Country Racing Victoria another $14,000. Since 2014, the Labor Government has provided over $3 million to support nine infrastructure projects and 14 race day events at the Wangaratta Racecourse, including $1.5 million towards the stage-two master plan works. The racing industry in the Ovens-Murray region generates more than $39 million for the economy annually and helps to sustain more than 380 full-time equivalent jobs locally.