- Australians have missed out on watching the Melbourne Cup
- Many had made the same mistake as last year.
- Knight’s Choice storms in to secure a dramatic victory
Thousands of Australians missed out on watching this year’s Melbourne Cup because they didn’t realize the race was not broadcast on traditional broadcaster Channel Seven.
Some racing fans lashed out at the broadcaster last year after the television channel broadcast horse racing live from elsewhere in Australia.
Fans had settled for an afternoon of racing, believing the cameras would switch to Flemington for the start of the Cup. But many were left scratching their heads after Channel Seven did not broadcast the race, forgetting that the rights belonged to Channel 10. since 2019.
It looks like the same thing has happened once again in 2024, with many fans once again missing out on the $8.5 million race which was due to start at 3pm AEDT on Tuesday.
Racing fans appeared to be once again surprised by changes to the Melbourne Cup broadcast.
Channel Nine showed the epic journey of Robbie Dolan and Knight’s Chance on Tuesday, with the outsiders winning the Melbourne Cup.
But some had not switched from Channel Seven to Channel Nine for the big race, and many forget that the former no longer has the broadcast rights.
Channel Nine took over the rights to Australia’s big race for 2024, with $81 outsiders Robbie Dolan and Knight’s Chance upsetting the odds to claim a dramatic victory.
Fans were again surprised by the transmission change, with some wondering how they managed to miss the race.
I’ve been watching Channel 7 for three hours and realized the damn Melbourne Cup is on Channel 9. I missed it all. Really sums up the day,” wrote one on X (formerly Twitter).
‘It’s not a day that stops the nation if competing networks show a completely different race. “Bruce’s comments really threw me off,” he added.
Instead, Channel Seven had shown The Big Dance at Randwick and several other races around the country.
“This happens every year, I almost got caught today lol,” another joked.
Another wrote: ‘The race that stops a nation (until some members of the nation realize too late that they have been watching the wrong horse race on Channel Seven instead of Channel Nine).’
Several on X (formerly Twitter) joked that the situation “happens every year” with one stating “I almost got caught today lol.”
“I think channel seven should not be allowed to have a program called ‘Seven’s Horse Racing’ at the same time as the Melbourne Cup,” one wrote.
But it appeared to be a great day for some punters, despite favorites Vauban and Buckeroo falling back in the race. One guy took home a massive $3.2 million payout on a $100 bet after correctly predicting first for the finishers in Tuesday’s race.
Knight’s Choice came in first, followed by Warp Speed, Okita Souchi, and Zardozi.
Speaking of his win, Dolan, who had also appeared on The Voice, admitted his elation: “If you’re willing to work hard, you’ll be rewarded.”
“I could have easily stopped riding my bike to make music, but I loved it too much,” he said, speaking of a possible caretaker shift toward music. ‘Pinch me, I’m dreaming… I can’t believe it,’ he told Channel Nine.
‘I think I’ll be singing for the rest of my life after that. What the hell.’
