MELBOURNE Cup emergencies are not on the radar of the Victoria Racing Club, repoerts Racing Network.
While emergencies have successfully worked with the Caulfield Cup - last week all four emergencies gained a run in the Caulfield Cup - VRC Acting Chief Executive Julian Sullivan said it is not something the club is considering.
Sullivan said that while it is simple to argue that the inclusion of emergencies would be beneficial, such suggestions ignore the complexities of the issue and the potential impacts this would have on wagering.
He said the VRC, in conjunction with Racing Victoria and industry stakeholders, conducted a feasibility study into the potential of facilitating emergency acceptors for the Melbourne Cup in 2010, determining it would have a negative impact on wagering.
Sullivan noted after extensive consultation it was established that the introduction of emergencies would cost more than $1 million in software upgrade expenses.
He added the introduction of emergencies would create issues with interstate and overseas tote operators, impacting potential wagering income.
"The inclusion of emergencies would impact pre-raceday betting turnover on the Melbourne Cup," Sullivan said.
"The potential to introduce ‘bracketed runners’ and ‘reserves’ was investigated, however these would have a negative impact on the wagering turnover of the Melbourne Cup."
Sullivan said since the review, new measures have been introduced to ensure a maximum field size.
He listed the mandatory pre-acceptance veterinary checks of the top 35 horses in the order of entry and a requirement for a veterinary certificate to withdraw from the race.
"While the VRC is open to feedback from racing industry stakeholders on the matter, the fundamentals that underpinned these findings remain unchanged today," Sullivan said.