Bucks party, DJ on the decks and plenty of frocks: Trackside at the Caulfield Cup

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Bucks celebrating in “party shirts”, serious punters perusing the form guide and women frocked up for their first time at the track combined for a bumper turnout at this year’s Caulfield Cup.

Inside the general admission lawns at the $5 million event – held on the third Saturday in October each year – dance-pop music was spun by a DJ in a bright orange dress as racegoers navigated hoardings blocking off large sections of the grass for the construction of Caulfield’s new mounting yard.

Racegoers take a quick selfie at Caulfield Cup.Credit: Luis Ascui

Surveying the crowd from the front of the Caulfield Lounge Marquee on the front straight on Saturday, Melbourne Racing Club boss Josh Blanksby said he expected attendance would hit 25,000 for the day.

That would beat last year’s attendance of 24,289, but well down on 20 years ago, when the Cup attracted crowds of 50,000.

“We’re pretty confident we’ll get to the 25,000 number which will be our biggest crowd since COVID,” Blanksby said. “We’d love to get ahead of that, that’d be growth year-on-year.”

To boost attendance, the MRC did a last-minute push offering two-for-one tickets on social media on Friday.

“This is our flagship day, and I’d rather more people experience Caulfield Cup day then be incentivised to come back to another day,” he said.

Racegoers Negin Yazdani, Fahi Taba and Farnaz Taba.Credit: Cara Waters

Among the punters who staked out prime positions with picnic blankets and folding chairs were doctor Fahi Taba, her sister Farnaz Taba and friend Negin Yazdani.

“I don’t know much about horses and the Cup itself,” Taba said. “I’ve been in Australia for 15 years and this is the first time I’ve come. I’m here just out of curiosity and I love dressing up, like every other woman.”

Also on the lawn was Nathan Banks, who flew from Sydney for the races along with 23 friends for his bucks party.

Groom Nathan Banks (left) and his mates enjoy his bucks day at the Caulfield Cup.Credit: Cara Waters

Best man Nick Hatz dressed Banks in a pink velvet suit with zebra-print lapels and cuffs, along with a matching hat.

“We are excited to be here,” Hatz said. His only complaint was about the $13.50 drinks – “a bit expensive”.

On the drinks menu were $20 frozen cocktails, and a slew of canned alcoholic beverages. Soft drinks were less popular.

Like betting, drinking is one of the hallmark activities for those at the track. As one attendee was overheard saying jokingly to his mate: “You’re on the waters? You weak dog.”

Andy Ryan, owner of The Prince Hotel, and wife Ruby Ryan spent the day in the Committee Room at Caulfield.

Ruby suffered a near crisis on the way to the track when she was locked out of her online betting account after trying to change her name to her married name.

She needed access to back the hot tips from father-in-law Gerry Ryan, founder of caravan manufacturer Jayco and a race horse owner himself.

Adem Karafili, chief executive of ASX-listed alcohol company Top Shelf International, was enjoying a beer at the Caulfield Lounge marquee trackside.

A day at the races.Credit: Luis Ascui

Karafili was previously the chief financial officer of Swisse. He said that back in the day, in the Swisse marquee in Flemington’s Birdcage, he would rarely see a horse – but at Caulfield he enjoyed being close to the track.

“Caulfield’s got a really nice feel to it,” he said. “It’s a bit more casual, a bit more relaxed. It’s a little bit closer to the city than going out to Flemington, but it’s great people, a great day and you know, it’s all about the horses too.”

A small group of protesters from the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses gathered at the entrance to the Cup to chant “horse racing kills”.

All dolled up.Credit: Luis Ascui

Campaign director Elio Celetto said she hoped to educate those attending about what she described as a “ruthless, brutal industry”.

Though one protester conceded the group were usually heckled or ignored by the incoming crowd, she was not too fazed. It’s about “planting the seed” in attendee’s heads.

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