Bright colours and happy punters: More winners than losers at this year’s Caulfield Cup

Miraculously the rain held off. Instead, bright colours, silky pastels and a flurry of florals flowed through the black arched general admission entrance of this year’s Caulfield Cup.

Held annually on the third Saturday in October, the $5 million contest dates back to 1879, and is renowned in the racing world as the richest turf handicap over 2400 metres. But for many attendees, the day is more about dressing up, drinking up and drinking in the atmosphere than it is about enjoying the sport.

Crowds enjoy the action at the Caulfield Cup at Caulfield Racecourse. Credit:Getty Images

Crowds flocked in this year after the event’s two-year hiatus, when racegoers were forced to watch from home. While racing was one of the few sports that continued in Victoria during the second wave of coronavirus, crowds were banned.

New Zealand visitors Raelene Bleeker and Penny Murray were on the last day of their golf trip, and after getting rained out in Yarrawonga, decided to come to the races. Murray said they love the fashion and the atmosphere. Their only complaint – not enough seats.

It’s a problem that friends Judith Radas, Zoe Bardis, Steph McVarnock and Laura Heiberg were prepared for, arriving early to set up on the slightly muddy grass with a picnic blanket, snacks and plastic wine glasses.

“We’re here for the atmosphere, drinking, and to slay,” said Radas, youth-speak for her intention to have a successful day.

Sam Miran’s bucks’ party outfit at this year’s Caulfield Cup.Credit:Carla Jaeger

While cup tradition Fashion on the Fields is usually the barometer of the event’s best dressed, Sam Miran thinks he could have taken the crown. Twenty of his mates dressed him in a floral dress, broad-brimmed hat, and ball and chain attached to his sensibly chosen Birkenstocks.

It was Miran’s bucks’ party, so the group surprised him by taking the two-hour trip down from Traralgon to watch the races – and to show off his new frock.

Elio Colleto has attended the event since 2008 – but as a protester. Colleto, who is the campaign director for the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses, spent the morning out the front of Caulfield Station protesting the cup as people came through the gates.

Members of the Coalition For the Protection of Race Horses protesting outside this year’s Caufield Cup Credit:Carla Jaeger

“We’re here to get the message across to the general public that by going to the races they’re inadvertently supporting animal cruelty,” he said.

Colleto noticed fewer young people coming through gates than in previous years, which he says is driven by a younger generation choosing to boycott spring racing over animal welfare. 

It was the first time at the cup for students Clay Viera, 21, and Joe Howse, 20, who’ve come with a group of eight to celebrate a friend’s birthday. Arriving as the gates opened at 11, the group cracked open their first beers ahead of the day’s first race.

“I’m a hypocrite,” Viera said about the protesters out the front. They believe that animal welfare is part of the discussion around horse racing, and important to listen to, but preferred not to pay too much attention because they wanted to enjoy the day.

Kris Doolan has been coming to the Caulfield Cup for over two decades and, unlike Colleto, he thinks that there’s more young people in attendance than ever before.

“It’s always exciting, always a good atmosphere. I like the fashion, and being out with friends,” she said.

Attending the cup with Doolan, Shane Mutton found the attendance of the protesters at the front gate frustrating. “We don’t need to listen to that rubbish,” he said.

Over in the members, Teagan Brereton, Deb Brereton and Ann Hartley cracked into a bottle of sparkling rose ahead of the day’s first race. It’s a girls’ day out, and they reckon it’s a little quieter than usual.

Not that you’d notice in the Medallion Club. The bar was wall-to-wall with punters lining up to place a bet and buy a drink.

The crowd stood on tiptoes as they tried to get a glance of the track and all the frenetic energy as the horses flew past for the biggest race of the day.

But the race ended with an audibly disappointed sigh as emergency horse Durston took home the cup. Durston only got into the field after horse Maximal was scratched this morning due to the wet weather.

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