Melbourne Cup day aside, metropolitan racing on a public holiday in Australia is a shadow of its former self as clubs and regulators grapple with high costs and changing consumer habits.
When Lonhro turned almost certain defeat into an Australian Cup win that is etched into the memory as one of the more extraordinary victories of the modern era, his heroics happened on a Monday.
Unless there is a seismic shift in wagering patterns or an unforeseen need to transfer a race meeting of such stature, it’s highly improbable a Group 1 race will ever be staged again on a Monday in Australia.
Lonhro won on a Labour Day for Victorians but racing on national public holidays has changed markedly since then with metropolitan race clubs and principal racing authorities trying to find the right balance between profitability, a racing schedule that can become congested and consumer demand.
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