BILL Gibbins project to honour Australia's heroic lighthorsemen and horses will in future be managed by Racing Victoria.
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Gibbins, who committed more than $1 million in funds over four years in establishing the prestigious Jericho Cup, will have his last financial commitment to the $300,000 race at Warrnambool this Sunday.
Racing Victoria has given its pledge it will continue the commitment to the 4600-metre flat race, which is run through the paddocks adjacent to the track, in the future.
Racing Victoria executive general manager of racing Greg Carpenter said the announcement was "a very important step" in safeguarding the future of the Jericho Cup for Warrnambool Racing Club and the state's wider racing scene.
"In its short history, the Jericho Cup has already captured the imagination of the racing public and that is largely due to the tireless efforts of its founder, Bill Gibbins," Carpenter said. "Bill is the architect of the Jericho Cup and will continue to be the face of a race which has firmly established its place on the Australasian racing calendar, with qualifying races now conducted right across Australia and New Zealand.
"On behalf of everyone at Racing Victoria, I would like to thank Bill for his extraordinary contribution over the past three years and congratulate him for making the Jericho Cup a huge success."
WRC chief executive Tom O'Connor said it was fantastic to have the support of the Jericho Cup secured by Racing Victoria.
"It's a testament to all the work placed into the Jericho Cup by Bill and Iolanda Gibbins," O'Connor said. "The Warrnambool Racing Club looks forward to continue to work with Bill and Racing Victoria and to see the Jericho Cup grow as a race meeting".
35 horses have been nominated for Sunday's Jericho Cup.
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