The Melbourne Cup is Australia’s premier horse racing event. The race takes part in the final week of the Spring Racing Carnival which spans from late September to early November. In past years, the Melbourne Cup has attracted up to and over 100,000 fans enjoying the spirit of the day which encompasses everything from horse racing to fashion with thousands more tuning in to the televised event from home.
Following the cancellations and heavy restrictions which were experienced during Australia’s 2020 Spring Racing Carnival, the Victoria State Government has announced that restrictions will be eased on attendance for the 2021 Melbourne Cup. In early October, limited tickets went on sale for the race that stops the nation set to occur on schedule at Flemington Racecourse on Tuesday, November 2nd.
The Victorian Racing Club and State Government Working Together
As the time drew nearer to the date of the Melbourne Cup, with the state capital claiming the title of the world’s most locked-down city, the Victorian State Government together with the Victorian Racing Club announced that Flemington Racecourse would be opening its gates to 10,000 racegoers on Cup Day. The State has declared the Melbourne Cup to be one of the first mass events to take place as part of their “vaccinated economy” trial, even if they have not reached their 80% vaccination targets by then. Tickets are only available to members of the Victoria Racing Commission and the general public who have been double vaccinated.
Imposed Precautions and Ticket Restrictions
Though the State Government has allowed the sale of tickets for the Melbourne Cup Carnival, they do not come without their restrictions. The State of Victoria remains under strict rules until they reach their 80% vaccination targets where people cannot travel more than a 25km radius from their homes. The target is set to be reached by November 5, which means that only those who live in close proximity to Flemington Racecourse will be allowed to attend the Melbourne Cup on November 2. Concluding events such as Oaks Day (held on November 4) and Stakes Day (held on November 6) are more likely to allow fans to attend from further afield should vaccination targets remain on track for the state.
Access to Melbourne Cup Day tickets
Many have been seeking out tips for Melbourne Cup Day for months now and avid racegoers were at the ready to snap up one of the limited tickets available when they went on sale. Members of the Victorian Racing Commission were offered priority on tickets but with a membership base of over 30,000 people, it was unlikely that non-members would have a chance to get a ticket for themselves if at all, considering the attendance cap. Incorporated into the 10,000 person attendance are owners and trainers of horses who are racing in the events making the chance at getting tickets as a member of the public highly unlikely.
The 2021 Melbourne Cup is the starting event for the comeback of horse racing as a sport in Australia post-pandemic and with the events that follow likely to occur in less restricted times, we should be seeing a resurgence of race attendance in the 2022 Spring Racing Carnival. The Melbourne Cup Carnival will still be televised for those who are unable to attend with the Melbourne Cup race being screened on Australia’s Channel 10 and other race meets being televised on the nation’s Channel 7.
