Crowds at the Cup? Victorian government not ruling it out

Premier Daniel Andrews says Victoria is aiming to have 80 per cent of the state’s eligible population fully vaccinated by Melbourne Cup Day, leaving the door open for crowds at the track.

He said work was under way with the racing industry and he hoped to have the major event in “as normal circumstance as possible”.

Crowds could return to the Melbourne Cup this year.Credit: Racing Photos/Getty Images

The state government released its road map out of lockdown on Sunday, with Victoria expected to hit the 80 per cent fully vaccinated coverage mark, and relax some restrictions for those who have received two doses, around November 5.

Under the eased restrictions, outdoor seated entertainment for the fully vaccinated would be capped at 25 per cent or 5000, whichever is fewer. Outdoor non-seated entertainment will be capped at 50 per cent for fully vaccinated people. One hundred and fifty fully vaccinated people will be allowed to attend indoor seated and non-seated entertainment.

The Melbourne Cup is due to be run on November 2.

“If we deliver it by Cup Day, or it’s really clear that we’re going to, then we’ll have options to have a crowd,” he said.

“I can’t say how big … but it’s a great goal.

“It’d be a great signal to the world, signal to the rest of the country that Victoria is open.”

Victorian Sports Minister Martin Pakula tweeted a similar message on Sunday afternoon.

“We will be working with @FlemingtonVRC to plan for a crowd at the Cup in the hope that we get to 80 per cent by Cup Day,” he said. “We will also be asking the VRC – and the industry more generally – to help promote quick vaccination take up to make that a reality.”

In a statement, Victoria Racing Club chairman Neil Wilson welcomed the release of the road map to reopen and said the 80 per cent target “gives the VRC confidence to continue to plan for crowds across the 2021 Melbourne Cup carnival, which is a major event for Victoria and the nation”.

“The VRC team will continue to work closely with the Victorian government to understand the implications for hosting a crowd at some or all four days of the 2021 Melbourne Cup carnival and ensure that we are prepared for all potential scenarios.”

Wilson said the 80 per cent vaccination target by November 5 “is an important milestone for our community to aim for, so that business and community activities can resume”.

Pakula previously said clubs would likely be able to host crowds with very little notice.

Speaking to SEN earlier this month, Pakula recalled how he had tried to open the carnival up last year but reversed course in the wake of community backlash.

“I am sure we will get back to crowds for the Melbourne Cup whether it is this year or next ... last year I pushed very hard, too hard as it turned out, for crowds back at the races by Cox Plate Day, and the community made it clear that they expected the racing industry to be as responsible in a public health sense as everyone else.

“We will have crowds back at the races when it is safe to do so ... every racegoer, every punter, the sooner we are all vaccinated, the sooner we will be able to get back to these events.

“As we sit here on September 1, who knows what things will look like in mid-October or early November.

“If you want to agree on crowd numbers or have people in grandstands a week or two is plenty [of notice], I think. That’s the sort of thing I will talk to the clubs about ... you can have a smaller crowd in designated seats with a pretty short lead-up.”

Racing Victoria has already announced that vaccination against COVID-19 will be a condition of entry to its workplaces and licensed premises for staff and participants, including trainers and jockeys.

From Caulfield Cup day on Saturday, October 16, all participants and staff must have had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine unless they have a lawful exemption. Racing Victoria staff will need to be fully vaccinated by Saturday, November 27, which is Zipping Classic Race Day.

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