Wow! AFL and NRL finals are over and we are straight into one of the highlights of the Spring, and suprisingly only seeing three starters for the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes, with superstar Winx scaring off the opposition.
Next week we’re into the Caulfield Cup, followed by the Cox Plate and then Derby Day!
» Everything you need to know about the 2016 Melbourne Cup
» All the horses: 2016 Melbourne Cup field and nominations
» Melbourne Cup TV guide: How to watch, stream and listen to the big race
» The complete and comprehensive 2016 Melbourne Cup raceday schedule
Well, didn’t that come about quickly?
Racing traditionally enjoyed its time to shine after the footy, but times have changed. Notice this week other major sports such as the A-League and the NBL are very strategically launching in this footy-free zone.
Matt Stewart wrote a thought-provoking piece in the Herald Sun on Monday, lamenting the lack of marketing nous from Racing Victoria, nor a coordinated approach between racing clubs the VRC, Melbourne Racing Club and Moonee Valley.
The Australian reported on the spring launch of Tabcorp “highlighting the Spring Racing Carnival represents 20 per cent of its turnover for the year”.
So that got me thinking – if I were commercially responsible for the returns to the racing industry, what would I do? Racing Victoria is looking for a new CEO, so let’s consider this my open letter application.
Let’s extend the Spring Carnival by one week. The formula remains the same, with the Melbourne Cup staying on the Tuesday. The VRC have instigated some change for this year, with the 2000m weight-for-age Mckinnon swapped to the last Saturday, with a prizemoney hike that will hopefully entice most of the field from the Cox Plate.
So that’s it. Most great ideas have an air of simplicity!
Nothing on in Melbourne racing the following week. Melbourne Cup falls on the second Tuesday in November and everything else falls into line.
What’s going to stop even discussing this option? Only 154 years of tradition with a capital T.
I do love that terminology of the first Tuesday in November. But as I was watching the AFL grand final, I listened to Mike Brady sing that iconic song ‘One Day in September’ and I heard him change the lines to “One day in October”.
And I know it’s sacrilege, but that unknown sports administrator at the AFL put in a bye week before finals and is considering a night grand final.
Sometimes commercial return and new thinking wins out over tradition. Has anybody seen my pink cricket ball? The Test is starting!
Jason
Guest
I love that - the bear awakens. Very timely considering Patrick Smith article in the Australian and ray Thomas in the daily Tele I just want to see some innovation - why ownerforaday has not been embraced escapes me Firstfourology - definition the in depth profitable study of betting and backing a first four. Copyright me but when you see that pink jackpot or a tab jackpot ff- the best marketing a tote can do! Once again escapes me why totes don't embrace Firstfourology legendary history - when the two Japanese runners were double banked with the field in the Caulfield Cup. Then same bet Melb Cup - should have stood them out Roarers - give us your best first four for tomorrow # whythetipsterspick4 - firstfourlogy - hence the very first standout firstfourologist!
kv joef
Roar Guru
oh no ... the sleeping Cornell has awoken from his winter slumber walked outside his cave, had a stretch, broke-wind and is ready to party. as touched on above and something V'landys mentioned sometime ago when the ruckus was at fever pitch --- dealing with NSW, you deal with one body for the whole state ... dealing with Victoria, you have a queue. The horse-racing stakeholders (stakeholders ... always hated that term --- just reminds me of vampires and stuff), anyway the industry in NSW supports their one body (RacingNSW) because they have delivered on utility projections/promises. Racing on the other side of the no-longer-blue mountains just can't believe what is happening --- ignored for 50+ years but now every-time something happens in the 'big-smoke' ,NSWRacing throws a bag of cash over the mountains to keep racing's grassroots happy. Sorry off-topic but indirectly thereabouts, i think. the marketing dichotomy that exists in australian racing could be clarified as just being stupid if it wasn't so damaging. PS Jason, whats a First Fourologist? :) ... i think a new term has entered the lexicon.
Cameron Rose
Expert
If Sydney moved back, that could be an awful result. The Epsom and the Toorak on the same day. The Flight and Thousand Guineas on the same day. The Metrop and Herbert Power on the same day. This is why I hate that each jurisdiction does their own thing. Disgusting.
Cameron Rose
Expert
I like the idea to move the Moir Nathan. Victoria will be helped when the AFL Grand Final gets back to September where it should be.
Nathan Absalom
Roar Guru
I disagree with the premise here, this week is the key. For a lot of people, when the footy finals finish the question is, what do I do on the weekend now? The Cups and the Cox Plate are too late, it's this weekend that needs to catch their attention. The thing is, it's generally a really good days racing at Caulfield. It's the mile grand final for the 3yos, combined with a traditional lead-up to the Cups and a wfa prelude to the Cox Plate. It's not just a good product, it's an excellent product that just needs to be marketed well. Don't make the mistake that Sydney did last year (2015) of not marketing the earlier Rosehill carnival to focus on the carnival at Randwick, it doesn't work. Say to people on Caulfield Guineas "it starts here, don't miss out!" The one change I'd make is have the Moir stakes tonight. At the moment it gets lost in footy fever, if it were tonight you've got coverage both Friday night and Saturday the weekend after the footy season. But that's just my opinion.
Onside
Guest
Even if the horses I backed started a week earlier, they would still have found a way to lose.
Jason Cornell
Guest
Pearce said the competition from other sports, particularly the NRL and AFL Grand Finals on the first Saturday in October, has an impact on attendances for the Epsom meeting. “The Swans were playing on Epsom Day and also about 15 per cent of our sales come from the Shire for our carnival days but last weekend the Shire was only focused on one thing,’’ Pearce said. “I’m sure this was part of the reason the Epsom crowd was slightly below last year.’’ This has prompted the ATC to review spring carnival race programming and consider the possibility of shifting the Epsom meeting to the second Saturday in October. “There is a lot more competition up to and including last weekend than there is afterwards,’’ he explained. “Racing has this window from this weekend to mid-November where it can climb to the top of the Australian sporting pyramid.
Ryan Ranger
Roar Rookie
Disregard my last comment Jason, in the time it took me to write it, it's since been edited. Cheers.
Ryan Ranger
Roar Rookie
It couldn't have been Tom Brady singing, he was still suspended last week. I think you mean Mike! It's easy to get those from the Brady Bunch mixed up however.
Correct sometimes
Guest
The season is long enough