Inside VRC’s secret last-ditch plan for Melbourne Cup crowds
Victoria Racing Club bosses have made a secret submission to the government with plans to get fans trackside at Flemington next month for the Melbourne Cup, despite the city remaining in stage four lockdown. HAVE YOUR SAY.
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Racing chiefs are making a last-ditch bid to the state government to get a limited number of fans at Flemington for next month’s Melbourne Cup Carnival.
The Sunday Herald Sun can reveal Victoria Racing Club bosses have made a secret submission to the government, laying out plans for how they could deliver a COVID-safe race that stops a nation with a crowd in attendance.
Racing Minister Martin Pakula said the government was “working very closely’’ with metropolitan clubs “on their aspirations for their big spring race days.”
“We’d all love to see connections and maybe some racing fans there during our Group 1 classics, but we don’t want to jeopardise our steady exit from restrictions,’’ he said.
“Nor would we want to put at risk the amazing job racing has done to continue right through this pandemic.’’
He said the government would work with chief health officer Brett Sutton in “taking all those matters into account as we consider our next steps.”
VRC chief executive Neil Wilson said the decision on Cup Week crowds, including possible numbers, ultimately lies with the state government and would depend on public health advice.
“We would love to host crowds at Flemington for Australia’s greatest racing carnival,’’ he said.
Mr Wilson said the VRC was working on “a number of different scenarios’’ but “as a predominantly outdoor event” could safely welcome small crowds to Flemington.
“We do have the potential opportunity to utilise our expansive grounds for the Melbourne Cup Carnival if we are able to operate safely within the Government’s guidelines and the expectations of the wider community,’’ he said.
“For example, tactics that may enable the safe hosting of the event could include utilising our grounds to ensure patrons are appropriately distanced and applying strict controls around movement on course.’’
Cox Plate and Caulfield Cup organisers are resigned to the fact their major events will this year go ahead without spectators, with the coronavirus so far making Australia’s sporting capital a fan-free zone.
Moonee Valley Racing Club has sought permission for owners and connections to attend events at The Valley, seeking permission for about four people per horse for each race and slightly more for the Cox Plate.
Cox Plate organisers wanted to celebrate the 100th running of the famous race with fans in the stands but have now given up hope.
The inability to have fans trackside during the Spring Carnival will be a big hit to the state economy.
VRC chair Amanda Elliott said Cup Week alone generated $450 million of economic activity each year and retail, hospitality and tourism sectors usually thriving for Cup Week had been “hit so hard by this pandemic’’.
“For example, in a normal year the VRC’s workforce swells from 200 to more than 20,000 as the building and hosting of Australia’s greatest racing carnival takes shape,’’ she said.
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