The primary of 4 race days within the 2024 Melbourne Cup Carnival begins at Flemington on Saturday, and few will likely be extra eager than the Victorian Racing Membership’s (VRC) new CEO.
Kylie Rogers, the previous AFL govt who took the function as chief govt of the VRC in September, embarks on her first carnival since taking the job.
Saturday’s Victoria Derby Day begins the Melbourne Cup Carnival, which is adopted by Melbourne Cup Day on Tuesday, Oaks Day on Thursday, and Stakes Day the next Saturday.
Rogers steps into the function at a time when there have been questions raised across the prominence of playing and Racing NSW turning Sydney right into a spring-time vacation spot.
However for this week, Rogers instructed ABC Sport she needs to study from her first Melbourne Cup Carnival.
“I am 60 days in, so I’m utterly energised. I do know and love what the Melbourne Cup Carnival has to supply. I simply cannot wait to be the CEO and lead this nice organisation,” she stated.
“We’ll welcome over 260,000 folks to the park and I do know they will have a superb time. So I’m going to look at, and study, and hear, and luxuriate in.”
Melbourne has been the epicentre of racing in spring for many years, with the Melbourne Cup Carnival the stand-out week.
However the emergence of The Everest, a 1,200-metre dash race at Randwick in Sydney, has drawn the eye of the general public north in recent times.
The race, spearheaded by Racing NSW chief govt Peter V’landys, has turn into the world’s richest on turf.
Rogers stated she believed Melbourne and Sydney might coexist as spring-time racing locations, however she warned that cannibalising one another would profit no-one.
“I watched [The Everest] with curiosity … and I sit up for going subsequent yr. Hats off to what Peter [V’landys] has been doing. It is incredible for racing in Australia,” Rogers stated.
“What Melbourne Cup Carnival has is custom. We’re 164 years previous and we wish to have a good time that. No-one can take that away from us.
“So I feel the 2 can work hand in glove, there’s an providing for all and it is good for racing as an entire.
“We do not wish to see cannibalisation, I do not suppose that is honest for the patron. Hopefully, we are able to discover a manner the place we are able to compete in a manner the place the horse and racing lover would not miss out.”
The Melbourne Cup Carnival begins on Saturday with Derby Day, headlined by the Group 1 Victoria Derby.
Melbourne Cup Day will likely be held on Tuesday, November 5.
The Melbourne Cup will likely be held on Tuesday at 3pm, AEDT.
Take heed to the stay name of the 2024 Melbourne Cup on ABC Radio, ABC Sport Digital and the ABC Pay attention App, with protection from 2:30pm to three:30pm AEDT on Tuesday, November 5.
