I don't want to upset anyone but after going down to the cup on sat with my new suit and members tickets in hand i couldnt believe how far behind the on course facilitys were!On entry the door man asked to see my ticket(no electronic turnstalls to record entry and exit as in syd-one ticket gets all your mates in!)then it was t-shirts and jeans(no suits and ties???)am i in the members section sir?yes mate!?ok then lets get a drink,10 deep miss the 2nd race -great!Lets have a look outside(no bottles or glass out here mate!!)Back to the bar,plastic cups? not available mate!, let's go and watch the race outside, got the best place to watch it, right on the winning post, oh...there's a big obstacle infront of the big screen, can't see a thing. Don't worry let's have a bet with the bookies, no no no, every price way under the odds, stick with the tote. It gets better, back to a beer, can't have glass, go to the can bar outside, shouldn't take long, only twenty deep full of thong wearing punters or want to be punters. Picked the four horses we wanted to back in the first four, oh no can't do it, only got trifectas. O.k, not to worry, let's just soak up the atmosphere but there is none. Cup about to start, watch them jump then that's about it, can't see the race on the big screen because they put the screen right behind the winning post, can't hear the race because of the crowd, the only way I new who won was because Lee Freedman nearly knocked me down as he ran into the owner's enclosure. To top it all off, the horse we travelled down to watch, finished the race dead last, 15 lengths off the winner.....It didn't finish there, decided to leave the course, couldn't find the exit, couldn't get a cab and when we did, the cabbie didn't speak English....Melbourne, you've got nothing. This is coming from punters who have been to Doncasters, Epsoms, Golden Slippers, Sydney Cups, Derby's and have a great time doing so. Sydney is that far in front it is not funny. Then there's Brisbane.... All i can say is Melbourne, you've got lengths on them. We've been to Doomben 10,000's, QLD Oaks, Stradbrokes and others and let me tell you, Brisbane...you are living in the 70's. The only good thing about Brisbane is that it is only an hour away from the Gold Coast...G.C would have to be the best provincial race track in Australia. It's on the move and going places. Great facilities, bookies have a go and great weather(And Chicks). Having been to race tracks Australia wide and overseas, i can honestly say that Sydney is miles infront of the rest. You can always get a drink and have a punt on the busiest days of the year, TAB chicks walking around taking bets, bookies outside, can bars all over the place, suits in the members, entertainment provided, Big Screens everyone can see, train stations on course, numerous entry and exit points, parking and transport, plenty of security, Eftpos facilities, pick fours and the friendliest crowds....The winner is (again)....Sydney.

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We Dont Possess the abiltiy to lose!!!!!!!

I don't know about the Melb/Syd comparison but if you think the Gold Coast bookies "have a go" then you haven't been there for the last 30 years.

I knew this would upset a few people, you're right, I probably exaggerated about the bookies having a go. But yo know what I'm talking about.

That may be the case in Melbourne magoo, and agree Sydney takes the prize, but you should check out Doomben... Can't say the books will be much chop, but the facilities are fantastic. Very progressive club Doomben, just pity the racing is so crappy!

I sympathise with you Magoo in one respect. I had an experience similar to yours with the first 4. I travelled to Sydney a couple of months ago for the Warwick Stakes meeting. I studied what i was going to put in my quaddie all the way on the plane. After having one last look on track at my selections, i went up to the window to place my quaddie, after reading them out, the girl behind the counter looked at me as if i was stupid and explained to me that they don't have quaddies in NSW. I suppose i was the the idiot for thinking that the leader and most progressive racing state in Australia, sorry make that the entire universe (note sarcasm) would have quadrellas, silly me. It is typical of Sydney people to degrade Melbourne racing in the spring time, i heard that Richard Zacariah and Jeff Wells (2 noted racing scribes)and Ken Callender (enough said) had less than complimentary things to say about Melbourne racing on the weekend, Wells even going as far to say that the Caulfield Cup should be moved to Sydney (is this idiot for real?)Yes the green eyed monster rears it's ugly head in Sydney town once again, it's the same thing every year at this time. Melbourne by far has the best racing, the best atmosphere and is the best place to be at this time of the year, you know it, i know it and everybody else knows it, and a word of advice Magoo, if you can't hear the race, take a radio, but i must say how rude it was of the crowd to talk, yell and god forbid, cheer when you're trying to hear the race, how dare they, but i can understand, you probably are'nt used to a crowd that size.

P.S I would have got the quaddie that day, it did'nt pay that much, but a win is a win.

Having had a similar experience 12 months ago all I can say is the Cox Plate would be a better race if held at Randwick.

The Cox Plate would'nt be half the race it is if it was'nt raced at the Valley. In my opinion, the Valley is a big reason that makes the race so special. Obviously the 40,000 people that it consistantly draws year in, year out, don't share your opinion. I say bring it on, i can't wait to get there. While your at it, you might as well move the Melbourne Cup and Derby day to Sydney as well, 100,000 people is far to many people for Headquarters.

[ This Message was edited by: on 2003-10-20 17:20 ]

magoo has some very valid points about the actual administration and lack of organisation of Melbourne clubs especially around Spring Carnival time.
I'm more of a traditionalist when it comes to raceday edicate and attire.

As for the races themselves, to even entertain moving a race like the Cox Plate, or Caulfield Cup is blasphemy - dream on :razz:

Hello magoo,
are you suggesting racing is for the suits and the rest are just a rabble that you put up with? Surely not.
I thought clubs everywhere are trying to get PEOPLE to the races. Take out those not in suits what crowds [read revenue ]do you have.
P.S. Was at the Valley for M&P Cox Plate, struggled for a beer and a bet, some morons, but enjoyed every minute but then I'm just a bushie from the north. :???:

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be nice it's easy

dont know about the atmosphere and facilities first hand but everyone i know that has been to a cup or a cox plate says it is the best day/s anywhere.

calls to move the races to sydney are ridiculous. The cox plate should stay at the valley.

Unbelievable what would sydney say if melbourne suggested that they would be best suited to host the slipper.

melbourne is the home of racing and i'm west aussie. sydney siders suggesting otherwise should pull their head in.