Archive
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
Letter of the Week

Bangless bucks

This year’s Blue Diamond Stakes day attracted less than 10,000 racegoers to the track as part of the Melbourne Festival of Racing (MFR), which is heavily promoted. One wonders if there is a bang for the buck. With no competition from AFL on the day and lovely weather there is no real reason why people wouldn’t go.

Compare that with Warrnambool’s May race carnival over three days midweek at the start of winter, which attracts a large and growing crowd.

People are voting with their feet and gate payments to attend this "unpopular" form of racing, with the carnival revolving around its famous Grand Annual Steeplechase.

Perhaps if one-10th of the budget and effort put into the MFR promotion were devoted to the Warrnambool May Carnival, then that buck might produce some bang.

Peter Griffiths
Greensborough (Vic)
Today's Racing
Saturday 30 March
Sunday 31 March
Monday 1 April