Page 13: Flemington Birdcage crowds in spring an each-way bet
Neighsayers think the marquee-hopping antics that make Flemington’s Birdcage famous will be reined in this year but the VRC is still betting on spring carnival crowds.
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Lara Bingle now Worthington was the queen of it. Jennifer Hawkins got caught out once for taking a leak. Sprinter John Steffensen pulled the “Don’t you know who I am?” line after one too many Aperol Spritz.
Marquee hopping inside Flemington’s world-famous Birdcage during the Melbourne Cup Carnival has the box trifecta of celebrity navel gazing, heady corporate hubris and just downright bad manners.
But such frock and frivolity may well be reined in as the Victoria Racing Club sets contingency plans to cater for springtime crowds.
Big-name sponsors are getting fractious as the end of August deadline to commission marquee constructions draws near.
It’s not called Million Dollar Row for nothing. Big bucks are forked out with an expected return in brand awareness.
Arranging a 59-foot motor yacht as a marquee centrepiece as champagne sponsor G.H. Mumm did in 2017 doesn’t happen overnight.
Every detail, right down to how many airconditioner ducts are needed during the pandemic, has been considered.
The Victoria Racing Club has been in top-level talks with the state’s health department since the start of the year, discussing everything from density-limit guidelines, one marquee no passout rules, social distancing zones and bubbles, but sadly not of the sparkling variety.
What will happen to the Birdcage, the 17,000m patch marquee madness next to the mounting yard and not far from the on-course helipad, is an each-way bet.
There are neighsayers and even holding Victoria’s first major vaccinated event is at long odds. A balloted members-only event is one option.
Am optimistic and determined VRC is thankfully still a long way from scratching the VIP enclosure. VRC chief Steve Rosich told Page 13 the club continues to plan for crowds each day of the 2021 Melbourne Cup Carnival.
A range of scenarios are on the table, Rosich said.
“We are working in close partnership with Racing Victoria and the Victorian government and in regular dialogue with our partners,” Rosich said.
“Our plans to host a Covid-safe event with crowds are well advanced and ready to execute.”
These plans are scalable to adapt to the prevailing health requirements in November and cover a range of scenarios, all of which include the world-famous Birdcage enclosure.
“After last year’s spectator-free event, the VRC is firmly focused on delivering a very special and memorable Melbourne Cup Carnival with members to receive priority and exclusive access across the four days.”
The Melbourne Cup Carnival kicks off on Saturday, October 30 with the Penfolds Victoria Derby Day.
The Lexus Melbourne Cup follows on the first Tuesday of November. Then comes Kennedy Oaks Day on Thursday and Mackinnon Stakes Day on Saturday, November 6.
Put the champagne on ice for a Birdcage tipple. It’s a good bet.
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