Cup preparations are off and racing
PREPARATIONS are well under way at Mowbray Racecourse in the lead-up to next week's Launceston Cup.
Unglamorous infrastructure is being delivered, with the first shipment of about 270 port-a-loos destined for the track already on site.
About 350 wheelie bins are scheduled to arrive in coming days.
Newly-erected corporate marquees, now just blank canvasses, will soon be filled with lavish decorations and facilities.
Tasmanian Turf Club chief executive Robert Biffin said the club's philosophy in preparation for the blockbuster event was to hope for the best and prepare for the worst.
``We all know something will go wrong along the way,'' Mr Biffin said.
``The attitude is we just go with it, do the best we can, and fix it one way or another.''
Between 14,000 and 15,000 punters are expected to descend on the track next Wednesday for the annual race day.
``Ticket sales were slow early, but they're really starting to pick up now,'' Mr Biffin said.
``I don't know whether it's something that's peculiar to Launceston, but people here always tend to leave things to the last minute.''
Mr Biffin said the track was in pristine condition ahead of the 150th running of the Launceston Cup.
Melbourne galloper Epingle, who won last week's Hobart Cup by three lengths, will compete in the day's main race.
If Epingle wins the Launceston Cup, the mare's connections are eligible for a $100,000 bonus on top of the race prizemoney.
Tasmanian Turf Club chief executive Robert Biffin and site and safety manager Barrie McIndoe check on the preparations for next Wednesday's Launceston Cup. Picture: PAUL SCAMBLER