Go to Villagebet.com.au for free horse racing tips - Click here now
Forum Home Forum Home > Horse Racing - Public Forums > Racing Forum
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - VRC Oaks - Twilight meeting
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login


Thoroughbred Village Home Page. For village news, follow @TBVillage on Twitter. For horseracing tips, follow @Villagebet on Twitter. To contact the Mayor by email: Click Here.


VRC Oaks - Twilight meeting

 Post Reply Post Reply
Author
Message
crooked_gambler View Drop Down
Champion
Champion
Avatar

Joined: 27 Jan 2015
Status: Offline
Points: 4675
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote crooked_gambler Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: VRC Oaks - Twilight meeting
    Posted: 11 Sep 2019 at 9:48am
The famous four spring days at Flemington may become three days and one evening into the future after the Victoria Racing Club announced that November's Kennedy Oaks meeting will be a twilight fixture this spring.

The VRC intends to top and tail the historic Oaks meeting with a front lawn luncheon to kick off proceedings and then, following the final event, the popular general precinct The Park will host headline acts from the early evening.

With the change, Kennedy Oaks Day becomes the most unique race day in Australia with an uninterrupted luncheon period where guests can connect with friends and colleagues, enjoying a range of entertainment across the course before tuning into the racing action at 1:50pm, with the nine-race card set to conclude at 6:25pm.

Australian indie royalty The Jungle Giants are set to deliver a sensational set before the No.1 ARIA chart-topping artist Dean Lewis takes to the stage, fresh off the back of his North American tour. The Sydney singer-songwriter is best known for multi-platinum hits, Waves, Be Alright and 7 Minutes.

Gates will open at 11am, just under three hours before the first race and there will be shorter gaps between races, designed to amplify the unique atmosphere that accompanies Cup Week celebrations at Flemington.

Traditionally known as Ladies Day, Kennedy Oaks Day features the final of the iconic Myer Fashions on the Field national competition and the running of the $1 million Group 1 Kennedy Oaks (2500m), to be run at the revised time of 5:50pm.

VRC chief executive Neil Wilson said the club is excited to deliver a reimagined program for Kennedy Oaks Day as part of its long-term strategic plan for the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

"As the custodians of Australia's premier racing event it is incumbent on the VRC to look at new ways to innovate and redefine the experience for all on course and this is just one of many exciting changes for the 2019 Melbourne Cup Carnival," Wilson said.

"Kennedy Oaks Day is immensely popular every year and the club believes providing a dedicated lunch period and a later start to the race program is the logical step forward to further enhance the success of the day while broadening the appeal to a new audience.

"Those who want to enjoy the day in full can make the most of Flemington’s acclaimed dining venues during the lunch period or take up their place on the front lawn before the racing action begins at 1:50pm.

"The updated program of events will also make it easier for those with work commitments to take a half-day or finish work and get to the track to enjoy the vibrant atmosphere and first-class racing that the VRC's Melbourne Cup Carnival is known for."

Outside of the feature race, Kennedy Oaks Day also includes the running of the $500,000 Melbourne Cup Carnival Country Final (1600m), restricted to trainers and horses located in country Victoria.
This space has been intentionally left blank
Back to Top
djebel View Drop Down
Premium
Premium
Avatar

Joined: 07 Mar 2007
Status: Offline
Points: 53960
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote djebel Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Sep 2019 at 12:15pm
Sorry but that makes for too long a day and drunkathon.

Irresponsible boofheads.
reductio ad absurdum
Back to Top
pnclick View Drop Down
Champion
Champion


Joined: 13 Mar 2009
Status: Offline
Points: 1013
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote pnclick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Sep 2019 at 2:27pm
Is a long day, that will commence with facilities open way too long before the first race, allowing patrons to basically get tanked well before the first race. It could get messy at the end, although that is not something rare to oaks day.

A bit like when RVL trialled the feature race as the last race, it caused issue with everybody leaving at the same time....

Don't mind the twilight though, just not the having everything open early stuff.

Back to Top
ExceedAndExcel View Drop Down
Champion
Champion


Joined: 20 Dec 2008
Status: Offline
Points: 16226
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ExceedAndExcel Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Sep 2019 at 2:39pm
I like the idea. They need to try something different with the Oaks crowds they have even getting in recent years. Perhaps more people will be open to the idea of working half a day and then heading out for the 1st. Previously you would miss the first few races if you tried that and no doubt some people didn’t bother as a result. Also will allow a couple of extra hours of much needed recovery for those who also go to the Derby & Cup.

Don’t buy the gates being open too early before the 1st argument. They are open hours before the 1st on the other 3 days too.
Back to Top
jacko1 View Drop Down
Champion
Champion
Avatar

Joined: 26 Jun 2007
Status: Offline
Points: 1801
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jacko1 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Sep 2019 at 2:57pm
Interesting. Unfortunately never going to get back to the glory days of the early 2000's when 110,000 would come, but they have to try something. 
Back to Top
crooked_gambler View Drop Down
Champion
Champion
Avatar

Joined: 27 Jan 2015
Status: Offline
Points: 4675
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote crooked_gambler Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Sep 2019 at 3:25pm
They have nothing to lose. Definitely worth a try.
This space has been intentionally left blank
Back to Top
Red Hare View Drop Down
Champion
Champion


Joined: 12 Jan 2015
Location: Victoria
Status: Offline
Points: 4233
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Red Hare Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Sep 2019 at 3:52pm
Start & finish times make sense, though I would've thought seven races would be the ideal card for a twilight meeting. 

The club's takeout from those two extra benchmark races must be worth a couple of executive salaries.
Back to Top
TJMitchell View Drop Down
Champion
Champion
Avatar

Joined: 29 Jun 2014
Location: Melbourne
Status: Offline
Points: 16890
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote TJMitchell Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Sep 2019 at 4:25pm
It's not really that different when it comes to the actual racing. Maybe an hour later start/finish than the races this weekend. Why not go 3-8 or something like that. Then have entertainment on after and forget the before stuff.
Back to Top
Red Hare View Drop Down
Champion
Champion


Joined: 12 Jan 2015
Location: Victoria
Status: Offline
Points: 4233
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Red Hare Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Sep 2019 at 4:29pm
Because the day is a long term staple on the corporate lunch circuit.
Back to Top
crooked_gambler View Drop Down
Champion
Champion
Avatar

Joined: 27 Jan 2015
Status: Offline
Points: 4675
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote crooked_gambler Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Sep 2019 at 5:09pm
They’re planning on having night racing in the future.
Just testing a few methods out beforehand
This space has been intentionally left blank
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 12.05
Copyright ©2001-2022 Web Wiz Ltd.

This page was generated in 0.172 seconds.