quentinSpring Racing Carnival: What Went Wrong (part five)
December 8th 2006 05:13
Ten races looks great on paper, it’s two more than eight and one more than nine. But why is race seven the Melbourne Cup? Tradition would place the great race at number eight on the card. Logic (whatever happened to that?) would suggest Melbourne Cup Day only has nine races – and the cup – is the last race of the day.
We’re talking an increase across the board, more wagering, more excitement, more atmosphere and a more friendly race-time for international fans.
Of course jockeys would be far from their best by race nine and horses would have to spend longer times in the stalls – but hey, who cares about the racing anymore?
Cup Day is losing its edge. For the last couple of years, I’ve heard owners, bookmakers and punters remark, “Gee Cup Day is down this year, in all departments.”
But in actual fact, it’s not down on anything – it has just evened out. Cup Day has lost its glow and its hard to see it coming back.
Why? The media don’t help. Every cup day eve, the media embark on a fear frenzy (that shows like Today Tonight and A Current Affair thrive on – making people scared about anything).
This is usually the norm: “Punters are advised to stay away from Flemington tomorrow – a record crowd is expected, even those with pre-purchased tickets should consider abandoning the day, or you could be crushed. Really, we’re being serious, you could die.”
It’s no wonder people don’t turn up.
We’re talking an increase across the board, more wagering, more excitement, more atmosphere and a more friendly race-time for international fans.
Of course jockeys would be far from their best by race nine and horses would have to spend longer times in the stalls – but hey, who cares about the racing anymore?
Cup Day is losing its edge. For the last couple of years, I’ve heard owners, bookmakers and punters remark, “Gee Cup Day is down this year, in all departments.”
But in actual fact, it’s not down on anything – it has just evened out. Cup Day has lost its glow and its hard to see it coming back.
Why? The media don’t help. Every cup day eve, the media embark on a fear frenzy (that shows like Today Tonight and A Current Affair thrive on – making people scared about anything).
This is usually the norm: “Punters are advised to stay away from Flemington tomorrow – a record crowd is expected, even those with pre-purchased tickets should consider abandoning the day, or you could be crushed. Really, we’re being serious, you could die.”
It’s no wonder people don’t turn up.
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