Emergency talks after Cup scratching
THE Melbourne Cup could have emergencies as soon as next year.
Victoria Racing Club chairman Amanda Elliot confirmed yesterday discussions with Tabcorp to solve issues around having two emergencies would be ramped up before next year’s race.
Elliot said it was “disappointing” this year’s Cup would have only 23 runners after Who Shot Thebarman was scratched on Sunday with an elevated temperature.
It left connections of Geelong Cup winner Vengeur Masque, who was 25th in the final order of entry, without a start in the race for the second straight year.
“We’re hoping to have emergencies in the Cup next year,” Elliot told RSN yesterday.
“It’s a sort of legacy situation that has been around for a long time.
“As I understand it years ago it was because the technology couldn’t cope with the amount of pre-post betting, and then to have a scratching.
“Tabcorp have lots of different theories why its not possible to have two emergencies. We are going to go back and try to sort that out with them.”
There are no emergencies in the Melbourne Cup because the costs involved in upgrading betting techno- logy and terminals around the country is seen as too great for one race.
But Elliot, who said 2018 would be a year of great change within racing, wants to have the issue sorted be- fore next year’s race.
“I think, particularly when you see who missed out, some of them have paid the $150,000 and come here on the off chance that they will get the run,” she said.
“So to go off with 23 is disappointing.
“I see that as a challenge and one we need to solve.
“I have had the conversation with David Attenborough (Tabcorp chief executive) a couple of times and we will keep having it — hopefully with an outcome that suits everyone.
“It’s got to be able to be manageable. We’ll work with them to try to achieve that.”