It will add another chapter to its history when it hosts the sixth annual Greater Dandenong Raceday on Sunday, May 3.

The program is organised by the Greater Dandenong Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Melbourne Racing Club and sponsors City of Greater Dandenong and The Journal.

There are special ticket offers available. Buy one full-price ticket ($8) and the second person is free, and there's half-price admission for adults accompanying a child.

Children under 18 accompanied by an adult are admitted free.

Group bookings can access a special bonus offer of $30 for 10 people.

To take up this offer, call the Melbourne Racing Club before the event on 92577200.

Family activities will be a special feature. They include a major on-course prize for patrons, a roving jazz band, children's animal nursery, free ice-cream for children, a jumping castle, face painting, pony rides and racecourse tours.

The feature race will be the City of Greater Dandenong Cup. Confirmed race sponsors are The Journal, the City of Greater Dandenong, ESP Tecforce, Greater Dandenong Chamber of Commerce and Hilton Manufacturing.

Sandown racecourse opened on June 19, 1965 before a crowd of 52,379, a record that has not been eclipsed. On the Sunday before the opening, more than 20,000 people attended an open day.

Late in 2008, Sandown became the first Melbourne metropolitan course to obtain a naming rights sponsor and became known as Betfair Park, Sandown.