Moving Cox Plate and Caulfield Cup to after Melbourne Cup on the table

Running the Cox Plate and the Caulfield Cup after the Melbourne Cup is one of the options being considered.

Jockey Damian Lane rides Lys Gracieux to victory in the Cox Plate last year. Picture: AAP

Running the Cox Plate and the Caulfield Cup after the Melbourne Cup is one of the options up for discussion by racing administrators as they consider revamping the spring carnival to fit into a sporting landscape distorted by COVID-19.

A range of alternative programs have been put forward with a schedule expected to be locked in within a month.

The Melbourne Racing Club was keen to explore the possibility of moving the whole carnival back four weeks, shifting the Melbourne Cup from the first Tuesday in November to the last.

However, Victoria Racing Club chief executive Neil Wilson has ruled that out, declaring “Cup week is Cup week” and the date won’t change.

That opens the way for consideration of radical options such as moving the Cox Plate and the Caulfield Cup to late November.

“We’re doing scenario planning on every option and we’re pretty fluid but it’s got to work for everyone if we make any changes,” MRC chief executive Josh Blanksby said.

“One of the things we were putting forward was the longer you wait, the more chance you are of getting a crowd.

“The simplest way, if you were going to do it, would be everything move back four weeks from PB Lawrence Stakes Day (mid-August usually). That is unlikely given the VRC’s position, which I completely understand.”

Moving feature dates is not new. For more than 30 years there have people lobbying for the Cox Plate to precede the Caulfield Cup on the basis of weight-for-age events run over 2040m being a precursor to a 2400m Caulfield Cup. Currently only a few horses each year contest both races.

Blanksby said AFL boss Gillon McLachlan’s uncertainty around the finals series, notably grand final day, had racing chiefs uneasy. Tentatively scheduled for October 24, the grand final clashes with Cox Plate Day.

“Every administrator I talk to is trying to not be definitive. Just trying to get through things and not commit,” Blanksby said.

Moonee Valley Racing Club chief executive Michael Browell said he and his committee are waiting for the AFL to lock in the grand final date.

“We just need the AFL to confirm the 24th is their preferred date. I heard Gil (McLachlan) using words like ‘agile’ and ‘flexible’ as it all comes together,” Browell said.

“After 16 more rounds and no byes with a four-week finals series, you land on top of October 24. Then, if that’s the case we need them to come out and say if it’s a day or night grand final. We’ll take the vacant spot.”

Browell said all options need to be considered but at the moment, the MVRC is working to a day or night Cox Plate on October 24.

“The only thing that could (change things is) the potential to have these restrictions lifted more so that you can have crowds in the tent,” Browell said.

“If you could hold off for a month and be assured of 10,000, 20,000 or 30,000 people then that is a different option.

“It’s a decision we have to make in the next few weeks because trainers have got horses in paddocks and preparations need to start.

“Trainers need to know if these races are late October, early November or four weeks later.

“We need to firm up our position and I’ve said all along June 1 would be perfect to make an announcement.”