Saddling up for post-COVID world record

After COVID-19 last year forced fans away from the Spring Carnival, the state government has been asked to lift crowd capacity limits in a boost to the economy and spirits of sports-loving Victorians.Hopes are high the biggest racing crowds in world sport since the pandemic struck will return to the world’s sporting capital in time for the Spring Carnival, AFL Grand Final and Formula One Grand Prix in October and November. Melbourne Racing Club chief executive Josh Blanksby told the Herald Sun he was planning for maximum crowds when the Caulfield Cup kickstarted the season.“We are sort of swinging for the fences, to a degree, we want to be as normal a Caulfield Cup Carnival as possible,’’ he said.“So that is aiming for 30,000 on Caulfield Cup Day, 20,000 on Caulfield Guineas Day, with our usual temporary marquees right along the straight and infield and a full activation across all grandstands and areas.’’Mr Blanksby said there would be a push for fans to be able to roam the racecourse freely rather than be segregated in sections. He also revealed tickets would be frozen at 2019 prices, in a goodwill gesture to lure Victorians back to major events. “I’m assuming everyone will want a crowd of 100,000 at the AFL Grand Final so we will be a couple of weeks after that,’’ he said.“From a racing perspective, we are the first one so we are keen to show things off … and we are pretty confident we will put on a good show on as the first major race carnival’’Big crowds are also expected at the Melbourne Cup Carnival with the VRC planning for 60,000 or more on all four days. VRC chief executive Steve Rosich said at least 240,000 fans would be allowed at Flemington for the Carnival, starting with Victoria Derby Day on October 30.“Cup Week is the centrepiece of the Spring Racing Carnival and the major events calendarin Australia,’’ he said.“It’s a celebration of all the things that Melbourne is famous for; world-class racing, food,fashion and entertainment and we look forward to welcoming everyone back to our great cityand the home of racing.’’Bigger crowds would be considered at Flemington, based on health advice.And the Moonee Valley Racing Club chief executive Michael Browell hoped to host 20,000 at The Valley for the Cox Plate, a year after it was forced to close the gate on spectators for its 150th running. “In light of the restrictions which are currently in lace and forecasting what the model might look like in October, a crowd of circa 20,000 for this year’s Cox Plate would be a great outcome,’’ he said.“I think it will still be a cautious approach until the vaccination program has been rolled out.’’Style-wise at the track, fashion experts say timeless classics, like dark suits and dresses, will remain as racing day go-tos, especially on key dates like Derby Day, Melbourne Cup and Caulfield Cup.But splashes of colour in shirts, ties, accessories and hats will also feature. Dom Bagnato, Melbourne’s tailor to the stars, said: “Dark suits are a staple. But I’m expecting people to jazz it up with colours. It’s what happens when you come out of dark cycles. It will be a joyful time, and joyful times equal classics with splashes of colour.”The return of crowds is set to bolster the state economy with new figures showing last year’s Melbourne Cup alone generated $316.4 million in economic uplift across Australia in a year dominated by the pandemic. New research commissioned by the VRC reveals although the 2020 Melbourne Cup was run behind closed doors for the first time in its 160 year history, more than half Australia’s adult population watched or listened to it. The 2019 Cup Carnival generated $434.5 million in gross economic benefit to Victoria, unrivalled by any other Australian sporting event.Mr Rosich said the “huge period of sport’’ would “light up our great city and deliver another epic economic stimulus to many of the industries that hurt so much during the pandemic’’.peter.rolfe@news.com.au