Partygoers and corporate types will be out in force with regular punters as Randwick prepares to host one of its biggest crowds of the year on Melbourne Cup day.
The Australian Turf Club says it is catering for more than 20,000 racegoers at the famous Sydney racing venue.
“Melbourne Cup day is up there with Derby day (during the autumn carnival) for numbers,” ATC media manager Larissa O’Connor said.
Hospitality areas for the meeting, include trackside marquee and restaurants, were booked out well in advance.
“We were completely sold out two weeks ago,” Ms O’Connor said.
The ATC estimates racegoers will consume one ton of beef, 300kg of prawns, 600 dozen oysters, 100kg of smoked salmon and 10,000 pies.
With mostly fine weather forecast, lunch will be washed down with 50,000 bottles of beer and 25,000 glasses of champagne.
There will be 40,000 pieces of cutlery polished by some of the 2000 staff employed for the day.
Melbourne Cup day will be the first leg of a two-meeting celebration for the ATC, culminating in Saturday’s `Grandstand Finish’ fixture.
The meeting will be the last at Randwick before work starts on a $150 million development.
“Saturday is more about our members, the local community as well as owners, trainers and jockeys,” Ms O’Connor said.
“But it’s great to think we could get up 35,000 people through the Randwick gates this week.”
Racing at Randwick on Tuesday gets underway at 11.30am (AEDT).
The ATC will also host a five-race picnic meeting at Rosehill where up to 5000 racegoers are booked to take part in Melbourne Cup festivities.
AAP TURF
