IT MIGHT only have been a few days since the Melbourne Cup was run but the Victoria Racing Club signalled yesterday that planning for the 150th staging of the race next year was well underway, with the announcement that it would partner with the State Government and the Victorian Major Events Company in promoting the 2010 race domestically and internationally, reports The Age.It says: ''This will be an important occasion for the VRC, for Melbourne and Victoria and Australia,'' said VRC chairman
IT MIGHT only have been a few days since the Melbourne Cup was run but the Victoria Racing Club signalled yesterday that planning for the 150th staging of the race next year was well underway, with the announcement that it would partner with the State Government and the Victorian Major Events Company in promoting the 2010 race domestically and internationally, reports The Age.
It says: ''This will be an important occasion for the VRC, for Melbourne and Victoria and Australia,'' said VRC chairman Rod Fitzroy. ''The program of events will provide an opportunity to reflect on the impact that the Cup has had on the development of our city and our nation.''
Fitzroy was joined at the announcement by Victorian Premier John Brumby, who said that next year would be a huge celebration for Victoria and Australia and an event that would be followed around the world. ''We want to ensure that next year's race is the greatest since it began in 1861,'' Brumby said.
The VRC and Tourism Victoria will spend $300,000 on a marketing campaign to raise awareness of the event in key markets in Australia and around the world. It was also announced that the 2010 Cup itself would revert to the 1930 design, which because of the Depression was reduced in size in subsequent years. The value of the Cup will be $150,000 - up by $25,000 on this year's trophy.
Despite some conjecture that the prizemoney for the 2010 race might be raised to $10 million, Fitzroy said next year's Cup will have a $500,000 increase to $6 million.