Good for you Makybe. I hope you have a great day. Your quesion is a bit hard to answer because everyone has a different opinion of what they like in a race meeting. It is all about the atmosphere at the cup. Don't expect to find it super easy to get bets on and get drinks etc but if you wander around a bit you can often find little bars that a relatively less patronised.

The big closed in grandstand is strictly members only. The other parts...i.e. hill stand, undercroft and lawn stand are all available...but at a price of course. Given that general admission alone is the best part of $50 these days, I have been able to convince myself to fork out a bit extra to ge a seat in the lawn stand. If you get in early you can get your own seat almost on the finishing post. However, be warned...when it is sunny and fine everyone looks at you with green eyes but when it is pouring rain or a mini tornado (2004) whips up you have to retreat to the general admission areas like everyone else. There are many places to wander in the general admission areas and sometimes you can be lucky to jag a little spot to yourself but usually I find you end up on your feet all day.

As for flying down and back in one day. I have flown down from Brisbane on the morning of Derby day but never back that night. Even then I found it a very long night and if you can I would suggest trying to find a bed somewhere to crash that night as you might be quite tired.

Anyway, just my opinions. I have only been a few times and I am sure that many other forums members might have some different advice. Have a great day.

__________________
Ever get the feeling that the world is a tuxedo and you are a pair of brown shoes?