Bravado, fashion and protesters on show at the Caulfield Cup

There was a tense and tired atmosphere at the TAB as the big race at Caulfield Cup neared. Some placed their bets as if their lives depended on it, while others found solace in their drinks.

Racegoers enjoy some sunshine at Caulfield racecourseCredit: Justin McManus

As the race started, the room filled with cheers and claps. Perhaps none were louder than Liam Guilfoyle, who backed a winner in Duke De Sessa.

Liam Guilfoyle.Credit: Madeleine Heffernan

“The bravado that it showed, that horse, when it got to 600 metres. He got to the front really early,” said Guilfoyle, who owns a few horses with a few friends and attends Victoria’s major horse races.

“What else would you expect from [trainer] Ciaron Maher? He won the Everest, he won the Caulfield Cup today. He’s a real battler.”

Windy weather, public transport hiccups and anti-racing protesters did not deter the spirited Caulfield Cup crowd on Saturday.

The people Victorian racing want to attract – women and the young – put in a good showing, with organisers late on Saturday putting the crowd at 25,676.

Rich Watkins at Caulfield racecourseCredit: Justin McManus

Bookie James Bickerton, in his 10th year at the cup, said trade had been busy over the week.

The atmosphere started to get fruity by about 4pm, with crushed cans on the grass, spilt drinks on jackets and a dance floor emerging to a cover band. Among the guests were Melbourne footballer Clayton Oliver and stylist Lana Wilkinson.

Caulfield Cup veteran Elizabeth Paterson, in her homemade outfit.Credit: Madeleine Heffernan

Plenty of punters were sporting the free Sportsbet caps handed out at the stadium. Police said they expected the crowd to disperse a little after the final race.

Melbourne woman Kim Fisher attends the Caulfield Cup every year because “everyone is cheerful and happy. When the horses race, everyone jumps up and it feels good”. Fisher said she gambles only a little, and put her outfit together a month ago.

Cup veteran Elizabeth Paterson – a sonographer from Griffith in NSW who has little interest in the racing – pulled out all stops with her homemade frock this year.

“It was really expensive, this fabric. It’s lace and I’ve lined it with a beautiful yellow lining, and then it’s got 10 metres of tulle underneath,” she said.

Shane Kelsh, who races and breeds some horses, was visiting Caulfield Cup for the first time, with his 18-year-old son, Jack.

“We’ve come 1600 kilometres because we’re from Streaky Bay on the west coast of South Australia, so we’ll fly back to Adelaide tonight,” Kelsh said.

The Caulfield Cup has an interesting cross-section of people and a great atmosphere, Kelsh said.

Elio Celotto outside of Caulfield racecourse.Credit: Madeleine Heffernan

But Elio Celotto, from the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses – which was protesting outside – said racing crowd numbers were down as more people became concerned about equine welfare.

“We’re seeing now there’s an increase in support for our campaigns, whilst we see a continual decline in the numbers attending the races,” Celotto said.

“Young women obviously are more sensitive to these issues, but eventually the men will follow them.”

Bubbles at the Caulfield Cup.Credit: Justin McManus

Celotto said the sold-out crowd at NSW’s rival event the Everest – Australia’s richest race – was driven by its huge prizemoney and other entertainment that had nothing to do with horses. “Surely if we had that kind of budget, anyone could attract a crowd like that?”

There were still plenty of celebrations.

Neil Bainbridge, chief executive of Southside Racing, which runs Cranbourne and Pakenham, was in the winner’s room after Lofty Arch, which he parts owns, won race two.

“We were a bit worried about the weather, you know,” he said. “Thrilled for everyone.”

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