Melbourne Cup Could Be Set For Greatest Shake-Up In Its History

Being discussed.


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The Melbourne Cup could be set for a massive overhaul, breaking over a century of tradition.

Victorian racing officials are reportedly considering shifting the entire spring racing carnival - including the Melbourne Cup's regular post on the first Tuesday in November - back by as much as two weeks.

Officials are concerned the race that stops a nation is being overwhelmed by the AFL's ability to dominate the news cycle, according to a News Corp report.

The chiefs of the Melbourne Racing Club, Moonee ­Valley Racing Club and Victoria Racing Club will meet this month to discuss the massive shake-up.

A club official described the meeting as "a ­normal briefing between clubs", but said a new date will be discussed.

Pushing the whole spring racing carnival back would allow the Melbourne Cup to fall more between footy and cricket season.

It would also give the Turnbull Stakes, which runs on the same weekend as the AFL grand final, more breathing space.

The Melbourne Cup was first run of the first day of November in 1875, and a move would break more than a century of tradition.

11 March 2017




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