The Victoria Racing Club is known as a bastion of tradition, but within the most famous racing carnival in the country, it has pivoted to stay relevant in the 21st century.
While there has been a lot of moaning about Racing NSW’s spring program extending into November, the VRC answered the challenge and created the best day of racing of the year – Champions Day.
If there’s a day for the purist, it’s Saturday at Flemington.
It has taken over from Derby Day as the best day of racing in the country.
However, it can be better with a couple of tweaks to give it an absolute focal point.
The three other days of the carnival are Derby Day, Cup Day and Oaks Day, which is self-explanatory, the final day, as it used to be known, is now Champions Day.
It should be Champions Mile Day.
Similar days around the country have one race as the focus with other races supporting acts.
In Hong Kong, it’s the International Cup at 2000m, which shines above the Vase, Sprint and Mile. The same with Champions Day at Ascot that makes the 2000m contest the premiere race of the afternoon.
It has to be different in Australia because of our breeding industry, which has its strengths in speed.
We need a test of speed laced with stamina. and it’s why the Champions Mile should be lifted above the other two Champions races.
The sprinters have had their grand final in The Everest and the 2000m horses had theirs in the Cox Plate, but there is no clear championship race for the milers.
Make the Champions Mile the second biggest prizemoney race of the carnival behind the Cup, and it would be transformed to another level.
The VRC wants to make each of the Champions races worth $5 million, but the world isn’t meant to be equal.
It makes more sense to make the Mile worth $6 million or $7 million and the Sprint and Stakes worth $4 million.
There are so many mile lead-ups without a race that stands above all others.
Think from the Epsom on the October long weekend, the milers have the choice of a Toorak Stakes, King Charles Stakes, Crystal Mile and Empire Rose Stakes, none of which would give you the accolade of champion miler.
Add in the Golden Eagle and Big Dance and by making the Champions Mile one of the richest races in country you have a grand contest with different formlines, which makes for opinion and big betting.
The Golden Eagle is only going to grow in recognition and is already attracting quality international raiders.
They should be coming to a Champions Mile, but it would probably need to be moved a week forward in Sydney.
We’ve seen in the past decade that racing needs innovation to grow, and Champions Day has been part of that process.
Bigger prize pool for the Champions Mile will attract a capacity field and make one of Australia’s great races.
