Chief Stipe

The 2024 Melbourne Cup Wagering was down as expected with racegoers instead voting with their feet as Victorian racing experienced a welcomed increase in attendances across the 2024 spring carnival. Racing Victoria on Tuesday released the key results coming out of the spring carnival and it was the crowds – boosted by bumper a four days of the Melbourne Cup Carnival – that stood out with nearly 600,000 spectators flocking to Victorian racetracks in the three months to the start of December. Carnival crowds were up four per cent on 2023 and 17 per cent on the year prior with the four days at Flemington growing sharply by nine per cent. Away from the city, the racing was also popular with six country cup meetings recording attendance growth of 20 per cent or more. Returns to participants also increased, with a total of $114.1 million in prizemoney and bonuses paid out to owners, trainers and jockeys across the Spring Racing Carnival – up from $112.5 million in 2023. While the predicted downturn in wagering continued, with the total domestic turnover of $2.73 billion representing a seven per cent decrease year-on-year, the last four Saturdays in November all grew year-on-year after Melbourne Cup Day bucked the trend to remain on par with 2023. RV chief executive Aaron Morrison, said while overall attendances were most pleasing there was one aspect of the figures that stood out. “We were especially pleased to see so many young faces engaging with racing and enjoying a fun day out, with our clubs doing a fantastic job in delivering compelling raceday experiences and events," he said. “It wouldn’t be possible without the Victorian Government’s support of our major events which again delivered economic and social benefits right across the state and we thank them for that. “The atmosphere at our marquee meetings was as vibrant as it’s been for some time, and it was terrific to see communities come together to celebrate spring racing throughout country Victoria. “The Carnival really built momentum through the three months thanks to our great racing and events, supported by our successful media and marketing campaigns and partnerships. It has certainly helped racing to grow its reach and popularity with a broader mainstream national audience.’’ Following is an overview of other key data points and highlights from the 2024 Spring Racing Carnival: Attendance A total of 589,272 people attended the Spring Racing Carnival – up from 566,402 in 2023; The four days of the Melbourne Cup Carnival at Flemington were the highest attended race meetings nationally in 2024 with more than 285,000 spectators through the gates; The Caulfield Cup Carnival also experienced growth with just shy of 50,000 racegoers in attendance across the three days, representing a 2.7% increase on last year’s crowds; With capacity restricted at The Valley as the venue undergoes redevelopment, general admission tickets to Cox Plate Day again sold out with more than 20,000 people trackside; Country Cup meetings were popular with the Horsham Cup (37.4% increase), Coleraine Cup (31.3%), Benalla Cup (30.2%), Wodonga Cup (29.8%), Kyneton Cup (23.6%) and Hamilton Cup (20%) leading the way. Wagering Turnover on the Melbourne Cup was five times higher than any other race in the nation attracting $214 million domestically – the fifth consecutive year it has surpassed $200 million; An 11% decline in free bet turnover, coupled with macroeconomic pressures and favourable results for bookmakers were the key factors in an overall decline across the three months; Champions Day (Flemington), Caulfield Thousand, Cranbourne Cup Day and Caulfield Spring Finale (Zipping Classic) meetings all delivered increased turnover on Saturdays in November; Races to enjoy strong year-on-year growth included the relocated Moir Stakes (up 44.9%), VRC Champions Mile (23.5%) and November’s Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (20.8%), while the Seymour and Kyneton Cups both delivered record turnover The AFL Grand Final public holiday weekend proved popular with racing punters, with the Benalla Cup meeting on Friday afternoon up 4.7%, the revamped Friday night fixture at The Valley up 17.3% and Saturday’s Sandown Stakes meeting up a huge 47.6%. Media The Melbourne Cup was watched by 1.9 million viewers on Nine’s free-to-air coverage, representing a 12% uplift on 2023; With the addition of a live broadcast on Racing.com, plus 9Now and other streaming platforms, more than 2.5 million Australians tuned in to watch the iconic race; Caulfield Cup Day and Cox Plate Day were also warmly embraced by fans off track with 1.39 million and 1.04 million viewers respectively tuning into Seven and 7plus on those days; Seven’s broadcast of Victorian feature racing throughout the Spring Racing Carnival collectively reached 4.6 million viewers nationally; Live racing was viewed more than two million times on Racing.com digital platforms across the Carnival with visitors taking in over 15 million minutes of live action; and The Racing.com Website and App also hosted more than 10 million digital sessions throughout spring, serving for the first time as the digital hub for RV’s spring marketing campaign.

Perhaps there is perhaps there isn't. But anyone with any nous would know that horse traders are horse traders.

I'm sure you'll find something salacious to bang on about and get off on. Who cares what her other interests are.

What was the question? Where is the cite to the survey? Still seems there are enough to make up 91,000 attendees oncourse Melbourne Cup Day.

Actually they don't care that much from what I seen and heard when speaking to them. When was the last time you were on a race course? The young folk on course during Cup Week in Christchurch didn't seem to fussed. 99.9% of them would have never read a judicial report and are not likely to.

Bullshit surveys.

Sorry when was the last time you rode a horse? I realise it can't have been recently as that would have been an animal welfare issue.

So what are you going to do about it other than bang on about for another 5 years?

So what about the other 61%of us?

So why don't you all retire from the game? Have you raised your concerns with Spratts rides to the RIB seeking and explanation?

Shame you didn't run far enough out of internet range instead of spending the next nines years with an obsessive agenda to kill the industry.

Serious opinion from you? Your latest post on this subject was that you knew more than most but wasn't brave enough to tell all. Go figure!

ENTAIN got done in Turkey as well for was it 800m Euros.

Yes but the issue with Murrihy just like the INCA Saga is the time it takes to resolve things. He, like many Stipes, take the "War of Attrition" approach. Alligator Bloods Magic Millions race was over four years ago nearly 5. As the Old maxim goes: Justice delayed is justice denied.

BOAY obviously has higher standards than those who leaked the information to you.

Some one elses alleged errors doens't validate you bullshit @Yankiwi. Dog racing was doomed the moment the focused on the wrong metric. Only gave fodder to animal activists and the obsessed such as yourself. I take it now that your GRNZ obsession is coming to an end you will be focussing on fat shaming those who own obese labradors? Or calling out those who pay exorbitant amounts of money for French Bulldogs who suffer from all sorts of genetic health issues and can't breed naturally?

Are you fastidiously recording their statistics in a spreadsheet? Which forum are you persecuting the Australian officials on?

Can you be more specific?

That wasn't the question though. Would you say Murrihy was the most respected Stipe in OZ? I'm not sure those caught up in the Cobalt Saga wouldn't entirely agree.

@Yankiwi did you send your questions to GRNZ? Or do you believe ranting on a forum is going to make a difference? Apart from making you feel better.

Ray Murrihy called in to latest Alligator Blood saga www.racenet.com.au The most respected figure in Australian racing integrity will oversee the latest chapter into the long running Alligator Blood saga, after Queensland officials opened a third inquiry into the matter. It can be revealed former New South Wales chief steward Ray Murrihy has been called up by the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission to chair the new inquiry into his failed swab from the 2020 Magic Millions 3YO Guineas, which was won by Alligator Blood. All Tipsters - Last 28 Days Sitting alongside Murrihy will be former Victorian chief stipe Robert Cram and longtime QRIC steward Kym Daly as officials work to put the matter to bed. READ| The hype on Harry is real as Sunlight tilt shines bright The matter will not be heard until next year however, with QRIC opting to wait for the outcome of a February 28 court date, where Alligator Blood's former owner Allan Endresz is seeking an injunction to stop the new inquiry. Endresz, who has been banned from owning horses in many states in Australia, labelled the latest inquiry a farce, saying he offered Queensland officials a settlement, despite being confident of victory. The Alligator Blood saga has been going almost five years. Picture: Trackside Photography. "It is a complete and utter waste of everybody's time and taxpayer money," Endresz said. "I am gobsmacked that they have the audacity to have a crack at my background when they put these blokes in to run these inquiries. "It is beyond belief, I am very confident we will win on the 28th and it will be game over." The former QRIC regime, lead by former commissioner Shane Gillard, convened a second inquiry following a Supreme Court victory from Endresz over an owners right to be heard earlier this year, however it was over before it began. READ| Beau enhances Derby prospects with dazzling Grand Prix win Under the new leadership of Catherine Clark and former Hong Kong chief steward Kim Kelly, QRIC last week opened a new inquiry with Murrihy and Cram. "What we wanted was a panel that is removed from previous panels that have dealt with matters involving the horse," Kelly said. "We arrived on the view that some interstate participation would aid in having the matter resolved in a timely manner." Endresz and his legal team will argue the panel is unable to prove the validity of the horse's urine sample from the race after what was left of the "A" sample was revealed to be unreliable because of a power outage where the samples are kept after it was initially analysed and had a test report issued.

Note to everyone @Yankiwi's statistics are misinformation aka bullshit. Note that by comparison to other jurisidictions NZ Greyhound Racing has better statistics than most of them. In one case at least half. It has always been like that. So even if Chazza's stats were accurate, which they aren't, they are better than most. The reality is if you race animals some will die of injury or sustain injuries that mean they can't race again. It happens to pets too. If you don't like don't race a Greyhound and don't own a pet. As for the complaints about the large trainers - if you didn't have those trainers you wouldn't have had an industry because there wouldn't have been enough numbers to sustain a commercial industry. Yes one trainer can sustain 100's of dogs just like one trainer in horse racing can. Why? Because they have dedicated and often well trained staff. Don't forget the 1000 people employed directly!!

As a social scientist @curious surely you can see the weakness in the poll and the question asked. Still don't the 25% who don't want a ban have rights? We give every other minority rights. 327 individuals polled in 2022 and 817 polled in 2024. Anyway the key part of the question is "If a referendum was held tomorrow..." An event that was never ever likely to happen. I'm surprised @curious knowing your working background that you would give any credence to such a poll. BTW half the population want the Treaty Principles Bill concepts to be introduced as Law. I gather you are advocating that it should go to a referendum as ACT want it to? Or does the imaginery construct of a social license not allow that?

So did anyone consider a judicial challenge? Or did you all go "oh well its a rort" and then constantly moan about it for the next two years?

No a point in time BS analysis without any statistical normalisation by someone who has little understanding of statisics was done to presumably undermine the industry aka @Yankiwi. GRNZ shot themselves in the foot by choosing some stupid metrics not based on any science or historical data. Essentially they hoisted themselves by their own petard.