The Western Australian team ahead of its 1966 match against Roma, the football game that inspired the creation of the Roma Cup
Free entry for football fans to Ascot Racecourse on A-League Grand Final Eve
A-League Grand Final ticket holders will be able to warm up for Sunday's big game by gaining free general admission to Ascot Racecourse on Saturday for Perth Racing's D'Orsogna Italian Raceday featuring the 54th edition of a race that owes its existence to a football match between Western Australia and Roma.
Western Australia footballer Lou Andrioff, manager Bob Brown and administrator Julius Re – each of whom played a role the 1966 clash between WA and Roma that the Italian Serie A side won 4-2 after trailing 1-2 with 20 minutes to go – will be guests of Perth Racing at its Fiesta Italia luncheon in the Directors Lounge. The Roma Cup was created to mark Roma's Australian tour that ended in Perth.
The Perth Glory Handicap will precede the D'Orsogna Family-Roma Cup in which last year's winner, Italian tricolore-carrying Rock Magic, will try to become the first horse to win the event three times. Among Rock Magic's D'Orsogna Family-Roma Cup rivals will be the last two Railway Stakes victors, Great Shot and Galaxy Star.
Lovers of Italian culture are set for a treat at the D'Orsogna Italian Raceday, which will be the finale of the Ascot Racecourse season before Perth Racing switches to Belmont Park next week. The Italian Village will serve up a wide range of Italian food and drink, while there will be several entertainment acts across the venue, including a band in the Stone Motherless bar from after the last race until 8:00.
The D'Orsogna Italian Raceday will feature eight local races, with the card getting under way at 12:42 and finishing at 4:50. The D'Orsogna Family-Roma Cup, which is a Group Three sprint over 1,200 metres, will jump at 4:20.