Melbourne Cup 2021: Royal Randwick to draw bigger crowd

All eyes might be on Flemington for the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday but here’s why Royal Randwick will be the bigger event.

Racing Minister Kevin Anderson says Melbourne Cup Day will be an “unofficial public holiday” in Sydney with more people able to attend races at Royal Randwick than at Flemington.

His comments came as viewing figures show that Sydney has become the spring carnival racing champion with more viewers tuning in to The Golden Eagle at Rosehill in NSW rather than Derby Day in Victoria.

The NSW Government has eased restrictions for Randwick to allow a crowd of up to 17,000 in time for race day Tuesday while the Covid cap in Victoria remains at 10,000.

Mr Anderson said with 17,000 people now allowed trackside, the day will be an “unofficial public holiday” in Sydney.

“Randwick will be the place to be,” he said.

Scenes of people enjoying themselves at Royal Randwick Racecourse at last year’s Melbourne Cup will be repeated on Tuesday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Christian Gilles

Randwick will host more people than Flemington Racecourse. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Christian Gilles

“The Australian Turf Club (ATC) has done an incredible job of catering to crowds while keeping them safe and now, as vaccination rates increase, we are able to increase the number of spectators trackside at Royal Randwick.

“The Spring Carnival in Sydney is without a doubt the best racing experience you’ll get anywhere and this year has been no exception,” he said.

“The NSW government’s number one priority is keeping communities safe while boosting the state’s economy and I welcome the jobs and the economic stimulus that will come off the back of larger crowds at the races.”

Australian Turf Club chief executive Jamie Barkley said: “Racing in Sydney has led the city in celebrating coming out of lockdown and we look forward on Tuesday to hosting the biggest race meeting crowd of anywhere in Australia.’

“Horses ran several records on Saturday and our spectators in Western Sydney came to life and re-emerged out of Covid.

The government says larger crowds at the races will mean bigger economic benefits. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Christian Gilles

“Saturday also saw record numbers of people watching the Golden Eagle from home on Channel 7 for a young race which is helping to reinvigorate racing.”

Official OzTAM figures show that more people tuned in for the Golden Eagle on Seven than for the Derby on Ten.

Nationally 210,000 people watched the big race in Sydney while just 125,000 watched the Derby in Melbourne. Coverage of the whole race day from NSW attracted a 34 per cent bigger audience than the traditional launch of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

Mr Barkley said: “Sydney racing is breaking records on the track and off the track on lounges in homes.”

The third running of the Golden Eagle was the fastest so far and reflects a growing desire by owners and trainers to prioritise big money races in Sydney over Group One races in Melbourne.

Jockey Hugh Bowman after riding I'm Thunderstruck to victory after winning the Golden Eagle at Rosehill on Saturday. Picture: Getty Images

I’m Thunderstruck came from Melbourne to win the $7.5 million Golden Eagle rather than compete in a Group One race at home.

It beat runners from Sydney, Brisbane, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

Sportsbet’s Simon Legg said punters were also increasingly turning to the big money races in Sydney.

“Interest in the Golden Eagle continues to grow, and that is certainly the case when it comes to turnover,” he said.

“Despite Derby Day being one of the best days on the calendar for racing purists, we actually saw turnover between the Golden Eagle and the Derby being neck and neck. The innovation in NSW should be applauded.”.

RACING ROYALTY CARVING THEIR OWN PATH

While proud of their racing pedigree, Kate Waterhouse and Emma Freedman have made their own mark in the industry.

Waterhouse, 37, and Freedman, 32, grew up attending the country’s biggest race meetings with their famous trainer parents – but found themselves more drawn to the action trackside.

Kate Waterhouse and Emma Freedman at Circular Quay, ahead of Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Waterhouse, daughter of champion horse trainer Gai and bookmaker Robbie, will be watching this week’s Lexus Melbourne Cup from Crown Sydney, where she is hosting a lunch.

“Racing is in my blood,” Waterhouse, who is part of Seven’s racing team, said.

“I’ve taken a different journey to my mum and both my grandfathers were in racing – training and bookmaking – so I took a different journey and took a fashion road. I feel very lucky that my work life still crosses over into racing because it is such a passion of mine.”

Fox League and Triple M presenter Freedman will be watching the Cup from home.

“I have great respect for my father and his brothers and what they have achieved as trainers,” the daughter of trainer Lee Freedman said.

“Many years ago people maybe thought it would have been a natural thing for Kate and Emma to become trainers but we know that our talent and skills don’t lie in that area, they are in different areas of racing. You have got to create your own future, you can’t just lean on your family to be able to help you through life. I am glad that we have both been able to forge our own careers.”