Cup Day looks pretty in Punk

ORGANISERS of the Hobart Cup are declaring this year’s event a “big success” after lean years of late.

The official crowd figure is not yet known, but Tasmanian Racing Club chairman Andrew Scanlon said it was a lot bigger than last year when fewer than 5000 people turned up at Elwick.

“It was significantly bigger than last year,” he said. “We had a lot of young people through the gates. It was a big success for us and now it’s about building on it.”

The organisation of Tasmania’s premier horse race, and on what date it should be held, has come under fire in recent years culminating in last year’s poor showing where the attendance halved from the previous year.

Tasracing chief executive Vaughn Lynch said a lot of work had gone in to improving the experience for punters yesterday.

“We were expecting a bigger crowd than last year,” he said. “We are targeting improving peoples’ experiences, and improvement cannot just be had in this day and age with the action on the track. You need to provide a lot of alternative entertainment.”

Trusted with getting the punters to Elwick were rock act The Rubens along with Tassie girl-made-good Asta.

“I don’t get down here enough so it’s always a good reason to get down when you get a good gig like this,” she said.

Fans of the day yesterday were Bendigo couple Corey Hester and Danielle Downs, who were at the Cup as part of a trip to Hobart for Ms Downs’s birthday.

Making it even better, Mr Hester won the men’s Fashions on the Field event, while Elis Crewes, also of Melbourne, won the women’s edition.

“It’s been a great decision to come here for the Cup,” Mr Hester said. “I’ve really enjoyed it.” A small number of Animals Tasmania activists protested outside the Elwick track early in the day. “Animals Tasmania wants an end to the needless exploitation of horses used in racing,” spokesman Chris Simcox said.