Thoroughbred Park’s festive race days are fast becoming the go-to spot for Canberra businesses to celebrate Christmas. Photo: Thoroughbred Park.
It’s October already, which means Will Shaffron will soon start organising his corporate Christmas party which, year on year, is getting bigger.
The owner of NVS Paving & Landscaping isn’t one for getting stuck at a sit-down lunch for the entire event. And he doesn’t have time to coordinate a venue, catering and entertainment.
That’s why his go-to is one of Thoroughbred Park’s December race days.
This year, Canberra’s premier horse racing venue has two – the Christmas Party Race Day on Friday 5 December and the Festive Season Race Day on Friday 12 December.
Will says these events offer festive partygoers a vibe they won’t find anywhere else.
“It’s full of people holding their Christmas parties,” he says.
Across the two days, Thoroughbred Park offers the full gamut of festive race day experiences, catering to intimate gatherings and larger groups.
For those seeking a premium indoor experience, the Rich Reward Room and Silks Room provides private balconies, premium racecourse views, private amenities and either a two-course meal or substantial canapés, accompanied by a five-hour silver beverage package.
Trackside celebrations are also available with the Furlong Precinct and St Covet Row marquees, which feature gourmet grills or canapés, private courtyards and marquees, and four to five-hour beverage service. They’re ideal for groups meeting the minimum booking requirements.
For guests who prefer to be in the heart of the action, premium general admission tables offer designated seating, umbrellas, fencing and a welcome drink, while the Black Opal Room provides indoor seating with food and beverage credit included, with non-members able to join via a Members Day Pass.
General entrants can get food and beverages at the Thoroughbred Cafe, the Winning Post Bar and, for members, the Black Opal Room.
Across all packages, guests can enjoy access to TAB facilities – a major boon, Will says.
“It gives your guests something to do, watch and listen to,” he says.
“My guests always want to do the same thing the next year, which makes things easy for me.
“We’ve had as few as 15 people in our marquee. Last year it was close to 70. Word gets out about how good the day is, and every year it gets bigger.”
For Will, who invites his own staff, subcontractors and other builders who work for NVS Paving & Landscaping, the annual Christmas party is not just a great excuse to get together, but a way to thank the people he’s worked with all year.
And at Thoroughbred Park, he can reliably achieve this with close to zero organisation on his side.
“It couldn’t be easier really. We get an invoice to pay per head, it’s all inclusive, my guys rock up, they can dress up as much or as little as they want and everything’s taken care of. It means I can relax and enjoy myself,” he says.
“There are races throughout the afternoon, with plenty of great viewpoints, the food is awesome, and you can easily mingle with guests from other parties or enjoy complete privacy.
“At the end, there’s no need to settle a bar tab – just head out and kick on at the city nearby if you want.”
For more information, visit Thoroughbred Park.
