Tickets are selling faster than last year when 40,000 race goers attended Everest Day
More than 40,000 race goers are expected to attend the races in what will be the biggest crowd in modern history at the Sydney racetrack as excitement builds the king will make an appearance trackside.
NSW
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Soaring ticket sales for Everest Day at Royal Randwick will see additional police drafted in to monitor crowd safety, amid growing speculation King Charles III will make a cameo appearance.
More than 40,000 race goers are expected to attend the races in what will be the biggest crowd in modern history at the Sydney racetrack with excitement growing that the king, who will be on his first tour of Australia as monarch, will make an appearance trackside.
Extra policing is being arranged after ticket sales exceeded last year’s 46,000 on Everest day. Tickets this year are selling faster for the richest turf race in the world.
A NSW Police spokeswoman said: “This is a major event, there are adequate police rostered on, and additional police are always brought in for major events.”
It is hoped Charles, and his wife Camilla, will make the most of their day off on to cheer on the race meeting which has the Group 1 $5 million King Charles III Stakes (1600m) named in his honour.
His five day visit to Australia - the first by a reigning British king – does not include plans for Saturday, an official day of rest in his itinerary, but royal insiders say if he feels well enough after a first night’s sleep he could attend.
Charles, 75, who is undergoing treatment for an unknown cancer, touches down at Sydney airport on Friday night with a small entourage including two full time doctors.
He will be pausing his ongoing cancer treatment for the first time since his diagnosis in February on advice from his personal physicians.
The monarch’s health will be monitored closely during the visit, Buckingham Palace aides said.
The tour has been scaled back and includes minimal evening events to allow for his continued recovery.
The Times reported the King’s medical team would be bolstered by medics in Australia and Samoa, to where he will travel on to open the CHOGM summit.
NSW premier Chris Minns has urged the king to attend the Everest saying “it’ll be the most fun thing” of the royal visit – his first to any Commonwealth realm as King.
“I’m not going to make that demand of him but I have had a look at the royal itinerary and I understand he has Saturday off,” the Premier said.
“I couldn’t think of a more fun thing to do than go to the Everest on a Saturday afternoon, but that’s up to him.”
This comes as the Premier confirmed the sail of the Opera House will be lit up this Friday at 8pm in honour of the King and the Queen’s arrival that night.
The move comes after the government came under fire for refusing to light the sails in honour of the King’s coronation in May this year.
Mr Minns said he would light the Opera House for this visit as the King was physically in the country.
“I’ve made the point previously in relation to the Opera House, when it comes to events that are taking place in Sydney that will be our primary objective,” he said.
“The King is coming to Sydney and we obviously want to make sure he is warmly welcomed and that is what we’re going to do.”
A separate police operation will be undertaken during the royal visit with a NSW Police spokeswoman saying, “The priority for the NSW Police Force is to ensure the safety of the visiting dignitaries and the community.”
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