Who will be allowed at the 2020 Melbourne Cup
It’s the race that normally stops the nation, but this year’s Melbourne Cup will look very different to previous events. Here’s who will likely be allowed trackside.
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Punters are set to miss this year’s Melbourne Cup with only owners and connections tipped to be allowed trackside.
Racing minister Martin Pakula said on Wednesday crowds beyond owners was “highly unlikely”.
But owners could be allowed if restrictions were eased across Melbourne ahead of the race, bringing it in line with regional Victoria where owners are currently allowed trackside.
“It’s a bridge we’ll cross when we are in the next phase of restrictions,” Mr Pakula said.
“Large crowds beyond owners is highly unlikely.”
The Victorian Racing Club is holding out hope that some punters could attend the race that stops the nation.
Chairman Amanda Elliott said the VRC had originally modelled for 8000 people to watch the race but don’t expect that many will be allowed.
“There is so much to putting on a major event like Cup Week, I don’t think people appreciate how complex it is,” she said.
“We are still hopeful to have some people, clearly the racing is going ahead and the race that stops a nation will have some people watching it.”
Mr Pakula sparked widespread community outrage on Tuesday when he announced up to 500 owners and connections would be allowed to attend the 100th running of the Cox Plate on Saturday.
But the decision was reversed just five hours after it was announced.
Mr Pakula said the decision was made after chief health officer Brett Sutton agreed the event could go ahead with the limited crowd.
But he said despite the health advice that the gathering was safe, it was out of step with community expectations.
“I was struck by the community reaction. I understood very clearly. It was a mistake to have initially made the decision and I think it was the right decision to reverse it,” he said.
Mr Pakula said the decision to pursue the idea of crowds at the Cox Plate was authorised by the government’s eight-person crisis cabinet after an approach by the Moonee Valley Racing Club.
A passionate racing fan Mr Pakula said he was keen to assist the club but hadn’t appreciated how the move would be received.
Professor Nancy Baxter, an epidemiologist and head of Melbourne University’s School of Population and Global Health, said the decision was a “kick in the guts.”
“Even if (having spectators at) the Cox Plate... was completely safe and they had a COVID safe plan, you’ve destroyed a whole bunch of community will and you need that in public health,” she said.
She agreed that outdoor gatherings - including at parks or going for a walk with a friend - were safer than indoors, but said social distancing, masks and regulating crowd sizes were key to reducing risks.
ANU infectious diseases expert, Professor Peter Collignon, said consistent messaging and understanding how people would interact were vital.
“If you’re in a family group or a small group and you really can keep 1.5m away from other people, it’s hard to see why we do have restrictions when outside,” he said.
“Outside is 20 to 30 times less risky than being inside.
“Are they sharing cars and toilets and food venues? The shared facilities you’ve got to make sure you have covid marshals and that they stick to the rules.”
Daniel Andrews said he supported Mr Pakuka’s decision to reverse the announcement.
But Opposition leader Michael O’Brien said Cox Plate decision smacked of hypocrisy.
“The Premier’s demonstrated that when he says we can’t make decisions until Sunday because we need to see the data for Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday first, that’s a complete crock.”
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