- The world-famous event is known as the “race that stops a nation.”
- It attracts millions of spectators, including casual racing fans.
The Melbourne Cup is at risk of losing its status as “the race that stops a nation” with a leading racing commentator offering a sobering six-word reality check on the future of the race.
The Cup was first held in 1861 at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia, and has been the highlight event on the country’s racing calendar ever since.
Australia’s most famous horse race has become an annual holiday in Victoria, attracting millions of Australian and international spectators, including casual spectators who only watch one race a year.
It’s a beloved event that noted racing commentator Bruce McAvaney has enjoyed since he was a child and covered for four decades.
But now the Channel 7 icon has warned The Melbourne Cup’s time at the pinnacle of Australian sport is coming to an end.
“It doesn’t stop the nation anymore,” McAvaney said.
“My gut feeling is that within the racing community the Melbourne Cup has gone down a bit, but for those who aren’t racing fans, or who do it once a year, it’s gone down massively.”
‘Years ago, people may not have felt caught up in the magic of the Cup, but they weren’t aggressively opposed to racing. Nowadays, more people turn their backs on careers.
The Melbourne Cup has always been regarded as the race that stops a nation, attracting millions of spectators in Australia and around the world (pictured, Demi Brereton holding the Cup at Flemington Racecourse this year).
Interest in the Melbourne Cup has begun to wane in recent years, with declining spectator numbers and other events challenging participation.
‘It is being challenged by Everest, which has only been around for eight years, and the Cox Plate is getting closer.
Spectator numbers at the Melbourne Cup have varied over time, with attendance peaking in 2003, when more than 122,000 spectators filled Flemington Racecourse.
Throughout the 2000s, attendance often remained high, with typical numbers around 100,000; However, in recent years there have been fluctuations.
In 2022, attendance was reported to be approximately 71,000 people, almost 30,000 fewer than in previous years.
While it was more encouraging in 2023 with 84,000 people packing Flemington, McAvaney said other events such as the AFL Grand Final had overtaken the Melbourne Cup.
‘It was a huge thing… it was about suburbs and neighborhoods, and it was for a race. It was, by far, the most important sporting event in the country. I had a big margin in the (then) VFL (now AFL) grand final,’ McAvaney said.
The introduction of the Everest in 2017 also brought new competition to the Melbourne Cup, as Australia’s richest horse race attracts high-profile horses, trainers and owners from around the world.
Veteran Channel Seven commentator Bruce McAvaney believes the Melbourne Cup is starting to lose its aura.
With its venue date in mid-October, Everest attracts a younger crowd and has taken some of the attention away from the Melbourne Cup in the run-up to the spring racing season.
The 2024 Melbourne Cup promises an exciting field with several top contenders gunning for the prestigious title, but fan favorite Via Sistina will not compete after being retired by her owners.
Early favorites include Without A Fight, last year’s Cup winner, and Vauban, the impressive Irishman who has performed strongly in recent European races.
Also attracting attention are Gold Trip, the 2022 Melbourne Cup champion, and Soulcombe, an up-and-coming local rider, making this year’s race a compelling mix of local and international talent.
