Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington Racecourse on November 05, 2024 in Flemington, Australia. (Photo by Dave Geraghty/Racing Photos)
The dust has only just settled on a truly magnificent Melbourne Cup Carnival but there is no time for reflection just yet, as we look ahead to the remaining three weeks of the 2024 Spring Racing Carnival.
There is no doubt the four days at Flemington showcased racing in its very best light, with a young and vibrant crowd of passionate racegoers and newcomers to the sport enjoying a series of standout performances by some of Australasia’s, and indeed the world’s, best horses and jockeys.
With attendance figures up by 9% year on year, which reflects a growing trend across the entire Spring Racing Carnival, the VRC are to be commended for the show they put on – both on and off the racetrack.
There were many highlights throughout Cup Week – as there have been throughout spring to date – with the amazing storylines surrounding Knight Choice’s Lexus Melbourne Cup win and the continued emergence of Champions Day two standouts for mine.
Prior to that, Harry Coffey’s triumph over adversity in the Carlton Draught Caulfield Cup and the success of the MVRC’s revamped Grand Final Eve meeting at The Valley – where attendances were up 27% and wagering 17% - were very noteworthy.
It’s been equally pleasing to see attendance growth of more than 14% at a range of country cups including Benalla, Bendigo, Coleraine, Geelong, Hamilton and Horsham.
It was particularly satisfying to see 3,000 people turn up at Gunbower – around five times the local population – in early October for the club’s first cup since 2019 after COVID and wet weather wreaked havoc in recent years.
After a very successful Caulfield Cup Carnival, it’s now time for the MRC to shine again as we count down to the second edition of Schweppes Caulfield Thousand Day on Saturday, whilst some of our iconic country clubs will also have their moment in the sun through the coming weeks.
The inaugural Caulfield Thousand Day was a great success last year, highlighted by some noteworthy Group 1 performances as Joliestar and Magic Time won the Thousand Guineas and the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes respectively.
But perhaps the day’s most heartwarming story came when Claidheamh Mor delivered the biggest moment of Gemma Rielly’s training career with victory in the first running of the $500,000 Country Cups Final.
This new initiative provides an opportunity to reward and showcase those horses who make our 55 Country Cups such an intrinsic part of Victorian racing. It’s great to see some familiar faces – headlined by Liam Howley’s ‘Country Cups King’ Station One – heading towards Saturday’s lucrative finale.
On the same day, one of regional Victoria’s most picturesque racetracks hosts its once-a-year meeting with up to 8,000 racegoers expected to descend on Dunkeld.
Looking further ahead, excitement is building towards Victoria’s first slot race with the $1 million The Meteorite (1200m) set to add plenty of intrigue on Ladbrokes Cranbourne Cup Day next Saturday (23 November), and Racing Wodonga is predicting between 4,000 and 5,000 spectators will attend its annual Cup Day at the end of the month (29 November).
The iconic Jericho Cup, which at 4600m is Australia’s longest flat race, will again commemorate the bravery of Australia’s light infantry and their horses when it officially brings the curtain down on the Spring Racing Carnival at Warrnambool on Sunday, 1 December.
From what I have experienced so far this spring, racing has really struck a chord with people – particularly the younger demographic – and is firmly back where it belongs.
With so much still to look forward to, I hope you continue to enjoy the final few weeks of what has already been an unforgettable carnival. If you’re lucky enough to be a winning owner even better.
All the best,
Aaron Morrison
CEO, Racing Victoria