Gold Coast’s Magic Millions draws in 24,000 patrons on race day
AND the winner is ... the behaviour of the bumper Magic Millions race day crowds on the Gold Coast.
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AND the winner is ... the behaviour of the bumper Magic Millions race day crowds on the Gold Coast.
Despite hot, sticky, humid conditions more than 24,000 turned out for Australia’s richest race day at the Gold Coast Turf Club with police reporting no arrests.
Police evicted just two patrons during the day, which is the marquee event of the 12-day Magic Millions yearling sales carnival.
It might have been Flying Jess and Houtzen taking home the wins in the main races but the real winners were organisers as more than 24,000 people marching through the gates.
Police were forced to manually direct traffic at intersections to manage the overcrowding.
Yet, Major Events boss Inspector Des Hearn said due to strong communication about responsible drinking and the heat, police made no arrests and only evicted two patrons throughout the day.
“Most people were extremely well behaved,” he said.
Inspector Hearn said he was happy with the flow of traffic throughout the day and said police knew long in advance that they would need to direct traffic towards the end of the day.
“A lot of people are now starting to use public transport … which is obviously fantastic for us because it puts less cars on the road,” he said.
Gold Coast Turf Club chief operating officer Richard Towson said he thought the 2017 Magic Millions race day couldn’t have gone much better but said there was still scope to grow the event in years to come.
“I’m very happy (with the attendance). I thought we might have a few issues with the weather being like it is — very hot, but it’s been wonderful,” he said.
“There’s always more room for growth. We haven’t even explored the in-field or further south of the turf club.”
Mr Towson said he was overjoyed at local success on the track but was also happy to hear from police that crowds behaved themselves.
“The highlight for me would have to be Tony Edmonds, a local trainer, wining the 2YO race, absolutely brilliant,” he said.
“Gold Coasters have been so well behaved today, it’s absolutely been a credit to them all.
“It’s a prestige event and the good planning — I think that’s what it comes down to.”
Minutes after the main races, a procession of women carrying their shoes flooded the streets of Bundall, jostling to get a ride.
Congestion had banked up at Crombie Avenue and Racecourse drive for much of the day with traffic bumper-to-bumper for hours in the middle of the day.
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