The decline and fall of the Melbourne Cup
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Was going to post in the betting thread but thought it needed it's own topic.
I'm amazed at how quickly the Melbourne Cup has fallen away in Australia, in terms of cultural relevance.
You used to have workplaces dressing up, organising activities, lunches, drinks, sweeps, big screens, the works. Big functions at pubs, big marquees at parks. It would cover the day's newspapers, and everyone would have a tip or a roughie to watch.
But it feels like the past five years has seen it fall away so sharply. I have no idea who the horses are, we will put the TV on at 3pm but I don't think anyone will spend more than 10 minutes watching. Don't think we will even have a sweep.
A bad run of breakdowns and deaths is one factor that I think turned a lot of people off, but I think it's also a broader social/work trend of less drinking, less organised fun and a greater desire just to go home at the end of the day on time.
It's probably not a bad thing overall, but it's interesting just how fast it's become something of a cultural relic. The idea of 'the race that stops the nation' now confined to history.
Unsure of the situation in NZ, but the popularity of horse racing in general is really on the decline. Which stands in contrast to other sports and activities.
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interesting observation. I've read a couple of articles that are the same. I scrubbed Bruce McAvaney's opinion as his is skewed by Ch7 no longer having the rights.
I am not sure horse racing is losing it's lustre, i think it is getting spread. There are still massive crowds in Sydney and Melbourne, but it's no longer just Cup day. New ones like the Everest are taking a lot of relevance. Peter V'Landys spending like a sailor in port to buy Australian racing is definitely changing the landscape.
I generally attend the whole Flemington Carnival (sadly not this year) and the crowds are still massive. Melbourne Cup day last year was insane. Derby Day still gets 80k.
And Melbourne Cup day still generates huge betting numbers (@Smudge to provide facts) and lots of that is once a year punters. I've already received the obligatory "what's the tip" texts from people who never bet (suckers, i am the worst punter to ask).
I do believe that the work lunch thing is definitely a relic though. There is this whole attitude to work now that makes people far more reluctant to socialise with work mates. And it's not for the better. Drinking culture is more in danger than horse racing.
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@barbarian said in The decline and fall of the Melbourne Cup:
It's probably not a bad thing overall
why?
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I was referring to the broad shift in workplace culture. No more boozy weekday events, more emphasis on actually working and/or going home on time.
I think I disagree with you that it's a bad thing? It's generally a positive I think? Plenty of opportunities for people to get on the cans at the appropriate times, but I think what we're moving towards might be a bit more inclusive (apologies for using a word that will upset a bunch of Ferners) and better for people's lives overall.
We're still having a Christmas Party at work and I will have a few drinks but I have no interest in getting pissed with my colleagues, and frankly never have.
And I agree the crowds are still big, and the VRC won't be going broke anytime soon. But racing is losing it's relevance day to day. None of my mates talk about it. Nobody at work asks if anyone watched the Everest or the Cox Plate. I reckon if you polled people under 30 a small minority would know what the Caulfield Cup was.
And I used to get a whole load of 'tip please' texts, I used to work at the TAB (long time ago). Crickets now. But I'm just as disconnected as my friends.
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im not sure its much worse since we've ben in aus, its obviously different to NZ as we're not at work so getting dressed up and office sweepstakes arent a thing for us. trams have been full of people obviously going to the races....maybe a little post covid, we use to go to a pub with mates....then we did a few years out on their lawn picnic vibes....going to the pub again today but probably not till after lunch so maybe a little
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@Nepia said in The decline and fall of the Melbourne Cup:
Yeah, I've noticed it too, my office is not doing a sweepstake today as far as I know.
Maybe it's still as big in Victoria though?
Well they have a public holiday, so it could cut both ways. If you're not in the workplace maybe it's easier to ignore, but also easier to go to Flemington if you are into it.
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@barbarian apologies i thought you were talking about racing, not boozy workplace culture.
i have avoided the majority of work events for many many years.
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@mariner4life said in The decline and fall of the Melbourne Cup:
@barbarian apologies i thought you were talking about racing, not boozy workplace culture.
I get the impression that risk averse workplaces have contributed to the demise thanks to the odd workers not being professional in their behaviour.
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with regards to racing, it could be more to do with social circles. Almost all of my mates will watch the carnivals every saturday, and we'll regularly travel for racing events. Most of us own horses too. We all have Cairns Jockey Club memberships. Some of us are also members elsewhere.
This was not always the case. I only opened a betting account before the first Everest (thank you Redzel!). I can't remember every discussing the weekend's racing with people who weren't also racing people. Shit, i still don't now (I don't really need to, group chats mean we have done it all in real time).
Maybe my point is we are getting older and everything is changing, not least the way we consume media, and interact with people. Some good, lots not
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@antipodean said in The decline and fall of the Melbourne Cup:
@mariner4life said in The decline and fall of the Melbourne Cup:
@barbarian apologies i thought you were talking about racing, not boozy workplace culture.
I get the impression that risk averse workplaces have contributed to the demise thanks to the odd workers not being professional in their behaviour.
100%. Tourism used to be a fun industry to work in. Now it is just like every other industry, constricted by red tape and the fear of liability.
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@mariner4life said in The decline and fall of the Melbourne Cup:
Maybe my point is we are getting older and everything is changing, not least the way we consume media, and interact with people. Some good, lots not
I think that's true, but I do think there are a few very clear signs that the Cup isn't what it was.
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@antipodean said in The decline and fall of the Melbourne Cup:
@mariner4life said in The decline and fall of the Melbourne Cup:
@barbarian apologies i thought you were talking about racing, not boozy workplace culture.
I get the impression that risk averse workplaces have contributed to the demise thanks to the odd workers not being professional in their behaviour.
That's a part of it for sure. I also think a run of very prominent horse deaths turned off a portion of people and gave voice to the animal activists. So big workplaces became more risk averse when it came to a boozy Tuesday lunch but also the issue of animal cruelty .
Previously you had one or two hippies in the workplace who didn't like the Cup, but they broadly stuck to their knitting when the race was on and nobody cared. Now their are more of them, and their issues are more keenly felt by workplaces wanting to be more inclusive, for better or worse.
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I'll reply more on what is not one of my busiest days of the year.
But for context, turnover on the day continues to grow each year and active customers have been up in the last few years too. Not hugely but an increase none the less.
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The roar at Flemington when they jump, when they go past the straight the first time, and at the finish, is unlike anything i have heard. The energy is incredible.
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@antipodean said in The decline and fall of the Melbourne Cup:
@mariner4life said in The decline and fall of the Melbourne Cup:
@barbarian apologies i thought you were talking about racing, not boozy workplace culture.
I get the impression that risk averse workplaces have contributed to the demise thanks to the odd workers not being professional in their behaviour.
Even before Covid my workplace had banned any drinking in the building, so the Friday drinks trolley was a thing of the past. Post Covid work functions are basically non-existent, especially with so many people working 2 - 3 days from home.
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@mariner4life said in The decline and fall of the Melbourne Cup:
The roar at Flemington when they jump, when they go past the straight the first time, and at the finish, is unlike anything i have heard. The energy is incredible.
I don't doubt that at all. I think racing as an event itself is still very strong. Because at the end of the day people love to dress up and get on the cans with their mates on a lovely spring day.
I suppose my thoughts were more on it's cultural cut-through. Talk around the watercooler etc.
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I went last year. It was absolutely awesome. Over the four day festival about 260k attended. Is racing for everyone? No. Does it matter? No. I'm a very enthusiastic punter, but I'm careful about who I advertise it to in woke old Wellington. Is the Melbourne Cup/horse racing on the decline. No way. It is getting new fans, it is becoming more engaged in becoming entertainment for everyone attending. Look at the crowd at the Everest. Very young. Not just old blokes in tweed jackets. As for the work culture angle. It is great work drinks are a thing of the past, including trying to incorporate events like these. I make a good wicket, and don't want to jepordise it by offending Indigo the HR advisor after making a shitty joke.
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@SouthernMann said in The decline and fall of the Melbourne Cup:
Is the Melbourne Cup/horse racing on the decline. No way. It is getting new fans, it is becoming more engaged in becoming entertainment for everyone attending. Look at the crowd at the Everest. Very young. Not just old blokes in tweed jackets.
And in that regard I think the VRC/ATC have been very smart, pivoting from Carnivals and big days being festivals rather than just race days.
But I do contest your point to some extend, in that while the day itself is well attended, it's on the decline in the sense that it's no longer 'the race that stops a nation' where 80-90% of the general population have an interest in the race, who wins etc.
