NEXT year’s AAMI Hobart Cup will be run on a Sunday in exchange for the Monday Regatta Day holiday timeslot that has been the case since 2001.
The Tasmanian Racing Club has been seeking the change for some time and it is confident the move will be successful on many fronts
“This is something the club has been keen to see happen for the past three years so we are very pleased that in 2011 it is going to eventuate,” said TRC chief executive officer Mike Wisby.
“One of the prime reasons for wanting to change to a Sunday is consistency in that this club races on a Sunday and people have become used to Sunday racing in Hobart so it makes sense that we would want to fall into line with that mindset.”
“The other reason is that the Hobart Regatta public holiday on the Monday is limited to the south of the state.”
“Having the Cup on the Sunday will give those who live in other regions of the state the opportunity to attend the meeting without the disadvantage of having to take a day off their annual leave or use a flex day,” he said.
The Hobart Cup is one of the jewels in the crown of Tasmania’s summer racing carnival but it has struggled in recent years to attract crowds of the size of the Launceston Cup that is usually 20,000 or better.
“We have to face facts and that is Hobart is too small for too many events at the one time and I’m sure the Regatta and events that are on during the long weekend, such as the Wooden Boat Festival, will benefit greatly from our decision to change the Cup to a Sunday,” Wisby said.
Since the inception of the four-week long Tasmanian Summer Racing Carnival nine years ago there has been a greater emphasis placed on the social aspect of the race meetings and the TRC is hoping the change will also broaden its appeal in that area.
“Fashion is one of the big drawcards at any major racing carnival and the Hobart Cup is no exception.”
“The Myer Fashions on the Field will be a huge event next year and we believe we have an opportunity to draw a bigger crowd on a Sunday and that should lead to a record number of entries, both socially and with interstate horse numbers for our feature races on Cup day,” Wisby said.
Next year’s Cup will be run on February 13 with the Tasmanian Derby again to be run on a Saturday, eight days prior to the Cup.
The Derby winner will gain ballot free entry into the Hobart Cup if already nominated for that race.
The Launceston legs of the carnival also will change with the Tasmanian Turf Club meetings, other than Cup Day, to be run on Thursday nights under lights.