Gold Coast Turf Club: Revellers on best behaviour for Melbourne Cup

UPDATE: Revellers arrived at the Gold Coast Turf Club in style for Melbourne Cup and the majority of them left that way. Here’s what happened today.

Revellers enjoying Melbourne Cup at the Gold Coast Turf Club.

UPDATE: Revellers arrived at the Gold Coast Turf Club in style and the majority of them left that way.

This afternoon through to the evening, racegoers spilled onto Bundall streets after heading to the track for Melbourne Cup Day celebrations.

But besides a few falls, including a man who was left bleeding from the head and some shoeless ladies, the crowd was well behaved.

One man celebrating Melbourne Cup at the Gold Coast Turf Club was left bleeding from the head.

Only a few patrons were escorted from the premises after having a bit too much to drink.

But most racegoers enjoyed some trackside bubbles in the sun and left without incident.

Revellers enjoying Melbourne Cup at the Gold Coast Turf Club.

Police and medics seemed relaxed as they helped direct traffic, with some cops even entertaining a few patrons on their motorcycles.

Revellers enjoying Melbourne Cup at the Gold Coast Turf Club. Only a few drops of rain fell.

A woman is escorted from the Gold Coast Turf Club.

First aid volunteers sitting around at the Gold Coast Turf Club as revellers are on their best behaviour this afternoon.

Politician David Crisafulli enjoyed a day at the Gold Coast Turf Club.

A man wearing a fascinator leaves the Gold Coast Turf Club.

FASHIONS ON THE FIELD

THE winners of one of the most talked about races on the Gold Coast Turf Club’s Melbourne Cup Day program have been declared.

Nicole Senese aced the field to claim the Women’s Classic Race Wear category in the Fashions on the Field contest ahead of runner-up Karen Robson.

Dwain Evans won the Best Novelty Socks category in Fashions on the Field. Picture Mike Batterham

Tina Lintott pipped Effie Cliff at the post to claim the Best Head Wear category and Stacey Hargreaves edged out Tennille Fawlkner in the Women’s Gold Coast Style category.

Fashions on the Field Best Dressed Couple winners Brittany Baldwin and Mitchell Clough of Hope Island. Picture Mike Batterham

Ross Newick was named victor in the Male Classic Race Wear section ahead of Mitchell Clough, Dwain Evans beat runner-up Jack Furner to the Best Novelty Socks title and Peter Browning topped the Best Male Style category ahead of Ron Robson.

Enterants in the Fashions on the Field. Picture Mike Batterham

The title of Best Dressed Couple went to Brittany Baldwin and Mitchell Clough.

This year’s Fashions on the Field were judged by SEA FM’s Heather Maltman and Bella Frizza and Gina Watson.

Fashions on the Field Classic Race Wear winner Nicole Senese. Picture: Mike Batterham

SILVER SLIPPERS — A LIFESAVER

Forget the Golden Slipper — it’s all about silver slippers at the Gold Coast Turf Club’s Melbourne Cup celebrations.

CEO Steve Lines is on to an early winner with one of several new initiatives introduced for this year’s Melbourne Cup party at Aquis Park.

The turf club is selling $25 Aquis Park-branded silver ballet slippers for well-heeled ladies to walk home in after a big day at the races.

Alexa Blake of Surfers Paradise with her feet saving slippers she bought from the Turf club. Picture Mike Batterham

The slippers come with a black tote bag for customers’ regular footwear so they don’t have to be seen carrying their shoes as they limp through the gates on blistered feet at the end of the day.

Turf club worker Janet Plumb said she’d had plenty of inquiries about the slippers already from women arriving at the main gate.

L-R Sgt Malohny and S/Sgt Angelique with their fashions on the Feild entrant numbers. Picture Mike Batterham

“Everyone’s looking at them,” she said.

“They’re all saying they’ll be back later. I think we’ll sell a lot at the end of the day.”

Race regular Alexa Blake, from Surfers Paradise, said the slippers were a great idea.

“They need some pantyhose and bandaids too,” she said.

Melbourne Cup day at Bundall. Picture Mike Batterham

It’s a fair bet the idea will be copied at race tracks around the country.

Crowds of well-heeled ladies and sharp-dressed men are streaming through the gates at Aquis Park for one of the turf club’s most popular days at the races.

Mr Lines said the slippers were one of several new additions to the club’s Cup Day offerings.

“This year in the Directors’ Lounge we’re trying a more cocktail-style “walk, talk and fork” as we call it,” he said.

“It means guests can walk around and socialise and they’ve got five hours of the day to do a lot of that so it’s much more engaging for people catching up with each other.

“They’re not sitting at a table next to the same people all day.”

Melbourne Cup day at Bundall. Picture Mike Batterham

Mayor Tom Tate and his wife Ruth and Tourism and Commonwealth Games Minister Kate Jones will join members of the club’s board and their guests in the exclusive ground floor Directors’ Lounge today.

“This is where the action is — they get right up close to the horses, right on the finishing post and they can walk out on the lawn and have a look,” Mr Lines said.

The club has also introduced a barber’s shop with free beard trims for gentlemen and a beauty parlour for the ladies.

Barber Bro's and Co barber Jesse compagne and racegoer Darvin Sejdic. Picture Mike Batterham

“We’re trying to get that younger group of people back to the racetrack and from last Saturday, when we did the beauty parlour, we can see those things are starting to work really well,” Mr Lines said.

Mr Lines said the club tried to run the race club in precincts for big events such as Melbourne Cup Day and Magic Millions to satisfy a range of clients and customers.

“VIP gets sold out before everything else,” he said.

“People do want that special occasion when they come to the races, especially on these big days.”

There’s also been a late scratching in the social stakes at Aquis Park today.

Mayor Tom Tate is no longer able to attend.