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Darwin Cup Day racegoers urged to get booking, with tickets to capped events being snapped up fast

TICKETS to the NT’s most anticipated racing event of the year, the Great Northern Darwin Cup Day, are selling fast with some capped carnival experiences already booked up.

Darwin Cup Carnival

TICKETS to the NT’s most anticipated racing event of the year, the Great Northern Darwin Cup Day, are selling fast with some capped carnival experiences booked up.

A crowd of more than 20,000 eager racegoers packed into the Darwin Turf Club for Cup Day last year, and while another great turnout is expected this Monday numbers will be limited.

Darwin Turf Club chief executive Brad Morgan said ticket sales would be capped according to the event’s ­approved COVID plan.

“We are expecting fewer visitors after border closures to both Melbourne and Sydney have prevented many from coming north, but we are still expecting a great day at the track,” Mr Morgan said.

Robert Gilbert and Peter Hall, trainer and jockey of 2019 Great Northern Darwin Cup winner Ihtsahymn, raise the trophy. Picture: Glenn Campbell
Robert Gilbert and Peter Hall, trainer and jockey of 2019 Great Northern Darwin Cup winner Ihtsahymn, raise the trophy. Picture: Glenn Campbell

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Tickets must be purchased online and numbers are strictly capped — so once they’re sold, they’re sold.

“Purchasing tickets online is ­important to ensure we have all the details of our ­patrons in the event of an outbreak.”

Tickets on the Darwin Turf Club website for some select events were already booked out yesterday.

2020 Great Northern Darwin Cup Carnival ambassador Lily North. Picture: Supplied
2020 Great Northern Darwin Cup Carnival ambassador Lily North. Picture: Supplied

Due to the demand, Qantas has added extra flights to Darwin for the Cup Carnival weekend.

The airline has extra services from Brisbane on Friday, and Adelaide and Alice Springs on Saturday.

The weekend starts on Saturday with the glamorous Darwin Turf Club Gala Ball under the stars at Fannie Bay at 7pm, followed by the Great Northern Darwin Cup Day on Monday.

The Darwin Cup will be worth $100,000 and the Palmerston Sprint $70,000.

Both have halved their usual prizemoney.

Spectators at the 2019 Darwin Cup. Picture: Katrina Bridgeford
Spectators at the 2019 Darwin Cup. Picture: Katrina Bridgeford

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Group 1-winning jockey Robbie Fradd will return to Fannie Bay to ride at the meeting.

The international jockey famously won the cup in 2010 aboard the Kerry Petrick-trained Shout Out Loud then fell off just after the winning post while delivering a victory salute.

South Australian jockeys Sairyn Fawke and Anna Jordsjo will also ride at the meeting, which will be one of the biggest race days in the Top End with 12 races on the card.

Originally published as Darwin Cup Day racegoers urged to get booking, with tickets to capped events being snapped up fast

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Original URL: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/national/darwin-cup-day-racegoers-urged-to-get-booking-with-tickets-to-capped-events-being-snapped-up-fast/news-story/aebacf12de94c941d14b202ceff30539