What does the future hold for the Melbourne Festival?

Horse racing seldom comes more high profile than the Melbourne Festival, with some of the biggest races on the domestic and international calendar taking place over the 4 days at Flemington. 

From the Melbourne Cup to the VRC Oaks, the amount of traction seen by punters with online betting sites is astronomical, and the event transcends sport. 

However, pundits and experts are predicting a rocky road ahead for the biggest racing event in Australia.  

Mention the phrase Melbourne Festival to any fan, punter or Aussie bookmaker alike and it will spark an interest like no other. 

A real celebration of racing dating back to the 1860’s, it is a sporting institution in both Victoria and Australia as a whole, with the Melbourne Cup coined as ‘the race that stops a nation’. 

However, in the progressive age, questions are being asked of where the Melbourne Festival sits within modern day society.  
 
The great welfare debate 

Few opinions in the world are as polarizing as the ones spouted around the sport of horse racing. 
 
For those who are immersed in and supportive of horse racing, there is no greater honour to bestow a horse than for it to be a competitive animal. 
 
With access to expert veterinary care, a managed diet and endless amounts of exercise, the life of a fit and firing race horse is seen to be the pinnacle of animal welfare. 
 
However, to those outside the inner sanctum of horse racing, it is an unnecessary and futile exercise, which puts the horses though pain. 
 
More tellingly perhaps is that the horses don’t gain anything for their performances, with the accolades and finances going to the owners, trainers, and jockeys. 
 
In addition, the way in which some horses are cast aside if they fail to make the grade is also seen as troubling for animal rights experts, with the moral quandary gathering legs. 
 
Ultimately, the debate doesn’t look to be coming to an end anytime soon but whilst it rages on, the future of the Melbourne Festival continues to be under threat. 
 
Responsible gambling 

For most punters, the Melbourne Cup and the accompanying Melbourne Festival is a chance to splurge and have some fun. 
 
With the best horses in Australia and from further afield doing battle, punters are always happy to be a little looser with the purse strings and chase a win or two. 
 
However, over the past few years, the hugely damaging effects irresponsible gambling can have on people’s lives has been brought into sharp focus, with an increase in footfall and losses being attributed to the Melbourne Festival. 
 
In the age of online gambling, punters no longer think anything of bunging a few quid down on a horse, for it not to trouble the scorers and the convenience of the betting apps means that it is easy to keep gambling funds away. 
 
Whilst the Melbourne Cup however is a high-profile event, which obviously generates traction with punters, it is not the root cause of irresponsible gambling and bookmakers, and the authorities have a moral obligation to support gamblers in need. 
 
Is the appeal still there? 

Consumer habits are continually being tracked both in Australia and the world over and there is a growing feeling that attending horse racing simply isn’t as popular as it used to be. 
 
In an age where body image isn’t perhaps as important as it once was and post-pandemic trends see less people turning to alcohol, does going for a day at the races have the appeal it once had? 
 
The Melbourne Festival attendance numbers continue to be sky high, with over 250,000 attendees across the 4 days of racing in 2023. 
 
However, experts are predicting a rocky future for the Melbourne Festival in terms of public interest and the organisers of the carnival will need to be savvy in the ways in which they look to attract new fans to racing. 
 
Whilst the Melbourne Festival is certainly not under threat, its position on the sporting calendar has been brought into question recently and it will need to evolve if it is to hold its own. 

When it comes to key Australian sporting events, very few can live with the prestige and history of the Melbourne Festival. 
 
However, the future of the 4 days of racing is seemingly under threat and the horse racing authorities may have to make a few tweaks to keep the Melbourne Festival relevant in the diverse and thriving modern age.