Melbourne Cup: fan-free Cup day as crowds banned

The Melbourne Cup will have to stop the nation this year without spectators after crowds were banned from Flemington amid coronavirus fears.

A security guard carries the Everest trophy during on race day at Royal Randwick Racecourse on October 17. Picture: Getty Images

The Melbourne Cup will have to stop the nation this year without spectators after crowds were banned from Flemington amid coronavirus fears.

Despite Melbourne’s two-week rolling daily average of cases falling to 4.6 on Sunday, the Victoria Racing Club has scrapped plans to allow a small number of fans into the course.

VRC chair Amanda Elliott said in addition to the 160th running of the Cup, Saturday’s Derby Day, Thursday’s Oaks Day and next Saturday’s Stakes Day would also be staged without fans.

“While we are very dis­appointed not to be able to welcome our members and racegoers to Cup Week, we understand the government’s commitment to keeping our community safe. We also recognise the need for certainty and clarity for our patrons,” she said.

In 2019, more than 275,000 fans packed Flemington over the four days of racing, glamour and partying, and most years the combined crowd number tops 300,000.

The VRC was believed to be planning for a crowd of up to 10,000 on each of the four race days. The blow follows last week’s backflip by the Victorian government, which scrapped approval for hundreds of racehorse owners to attend Moonee Valley to watch the Cox Plate.

Ms Elliott said the VRC was still negotiating with the government and the Department of Health and Human Services to allow a “small number” of racehorse owners into Flemington.

“We are still in discussions regarding the potential return to the track for a small number of owners, as is currently permitted in regional Victoria,” she said.

“What is certain is the Melbourne Cup Carnival will go ahead with viewing audiences watching from across Australia and around the world.

“The spirit of Cup Week, the high quality racing and the 160th running of the People’s Cup will be enjoyed by millions.”

The Melbourne Cup carnival starts on Saturday with four Group 1s, headlined by the Victoria Derby. Derby Day was always under threat of a crowd ban as it was timed for October 31, before the proposed loosening of lockdown restrictions on Nov­ember 2.

The VRC had been working hard behind the scenes to convince health authorities to allow small crowds in the expanses of Flemington for the remaining three days, including Cup Day.

“We will play our part in supporting Victoria’s emergence from this pandemic as Melbourne moves closer to a normal environment over summer,” Ms Elliott said.

“The board and entire VRC team look forward to the day that we can once again welcome members and racegoers back to fabulous Flemington.”