Destination NSW plans to expand Everest fan capacity to 50,000 in 2025

A sold-out crowd of more than 40,000 racing fans has been confirmed for today’s TAB Everest, but plans are afoot to make it even bigger in 2025.

The head of Destination NSW is determined to make The TAB Everest even “bigger” next year – with her sights set on increasing crowd numbers trackside to more than 50,000 people.

A sold-out crowd of more than 40,000 racing fans has been confirmed for the world’s richest race on turf at Royal Randwick Racecourse today (Saturday).

Two hundred lucky punters had an exclusive sneak peek of track conditions at the Business Sydney Everest Lunch on the eve of the $30m meet.

Destination NSW chair Sally Loane has revealed she will look to supercharge infrastructure to support more than 50,000 people expected for the 2025 race, but confessed she “wasn’t sure” how to make it a reality yet.

She said world-class events, including The TAB Everest, would help the state almost double its economic boost through tourism from $50bn a year to $90bn by 2040.

Emma Freedman pictured with the Everest trophy at the lunch on Friday. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Meanwhile, Racing NSW board member Tony Shepherd said the state government was making racing “a priority”.

“We’ve got to keep developing Randwick, as we need to keep developing the stadiums,” he said.

Kristina Ayton (l to r), Stacy Fraider, Jackie Marchant and Kim Daly toast the world's richest race on turf. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Harry Coates (l to r), Julian Wheeling, Rebecca Riant and Byron Hopkinson at the lunch. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Racing Minister David Harris had earlier declared that Sydney and NSW were the “big winners” from what he believes is the “greatest show on earth”, delivering $30m to the state’s economy and creating 2000 jobs.

Punters on Friday watched on as enough food and drink to service five cruise ships was trucked into Royal Randwick, and 14,000 plates of food were being prepped.

Business Sydney executive director Paul Nicolaou described The Everest as “a uniquely Sydney event”.

“The TAB Everest by our estimate will generate at least $30 million in consumer spending but the economic opportunity is even bigger than that,” he said.

“The TAB Everest is an economic juggernaut that just gets bigger and bigger year on year.”

Ashleigh Papasavvas (left) and Sunnefa Hamar Penning enjoyed a sneak peek of track conditions on the eve of the race. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

During Friday’s business lunch, hosted by Business Sydney in conjunction with Racing NSW, guests enjoyed a phantom call by veteran racecaller Darren Flindell, who picked Joliestar to win the world’s richest turf race.

However, trainer Ciaron Maher and jockey Glen Boss disagreed.

They both shared who they believed was the horse which would take home the $7m for first place.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if your three-year-old (Growing Empire) wins tomorrow,” Mr Boss said.

“He’s probably the X-factor (in the field).”

Not long after, racing analyst Emma Freedman put the question to Mr Maher who, without batting an eyelid, said Growing Empire “will be winning”.

Jason Parle, Brett Howle, Mark Sturdy and Tim Fishwick at The Everest business lunch. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Mr Boss’ endorsement doesn’t come lightly — he’s won almost everything you can in racing, including three consecutive Melbourne Cups on board Makybe Diva. With the last one coming in 2005, and admitting he longed for that same “physical feeling” ever since, Mr Boss said it took The Everest “to do that” when he won with Yes Yes Yes in 2021.

Mr Boss said the roughly one minute and 10 seconds it takes to win the race is enough for someone’s life to be changed, before applauding Racing NSW for “having the balls to do things”.

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Originally published as Destination NSW plans to expand Everest fan capacity to 50,000 in 2025