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Letter of the Week

Spread the word

 

In a recent column in Winning Post, Richard Callander was adamant that in the Melbourne Cup we have the greatest two-mile thoroughbred handicap in the world.

I agree with Richard’s opinion, but I must remind readers of a letter I wrote to Winning Post earlier this year, describing in a humorous tone my experiences of trying to obtain some information on the Cox Plate and the Melbourne Cup in the media and the betting shops in the heart of London whilst I was in UK at the time those races were run in 2011.

If, as Richard and I believe, the Cup does qualify as the world’s greatest, surely the average racegoer, punter and man in the street in UK should at least be aware of its running, rather than just a vague idea that the race is run "somewhere" down in Australia.

Compared to our interest in Royal Ascot, with or without an Australian runner, I’m afraid, from my personal experience, our races just don’t rate with the average punter in the UK. The only Melbourne Cup coverage I could find in a newspaper was a quarter of an inside page of the tabloid Sporting Life which contained the field and riders, a photo of one of the UK runners and some brief editorial content. The following day, I could not find the result in any paper, despite European horses filling the quinella.

I could find no TV coverage at all. Now I know the Cup was run at 4am UK time, but I could find no replay or information later in the day, although I did find the result via Google.

Of course UK owners and trainers are well aware of the carnival, and particularly aware of the prizemoney, which is impossible to earn at home. That’s why we get so much interest from UK owners and trainers. But the average punter couldn’t care less.

Should we care? I guess that’s debatable. But hundreds of Australians boost the UK and European tourism industry by travelling each year to Royal Ascot, Epsom Downs, Longchamp and/or Chantilly, spending many thousands of dollars.

Surely our racing authorities should get some promotional people off their bottoms and away from freeloading in marquees and committee rooms during the carnival and have them doing some work in the UK to promote our carnival as a wonderful holiday destination.

If those average racegoers spread the word when they arrived home, not only about the Cup itself but the activity, build-up and atmosphere of Melbourne Cup week, perhaps then it would be recognised as the greatest racing experience in the world.

Paul Connors
Brighton (Qld)
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Thursday 28 March
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