Over 3,900 tickets were available for VRC members after the Victorian Government approved a Derby Day crowd of 5,500 racing fans for the COVID-safe trial event.
VRC CEO Steve Rosich said the flurry on opening of the on-sale reflected the enthusiasm of members to get back on course for what is regarded as the most illustrious day of racing on the Australian sporting calendar.
“With four Group 1s and all races at Group level, Penfolds Victoria Derby Day is a firm favourite for all VRC members,” Mr Rosich said.
“1,824 tickets were secured within the first 15 minutes of going on sale, with the process running smoothly for member access in a positive trial run for the upcoming on-sale days.
“We thank Ticketek for their partnership to enable a seamless process. As at 6pm Monday, there are still great venues available for members to secure, including the Parade Lawn Pods and Lawn Stand Stadium Reserved Seating, with both including access to the lawns for a great viewing experience.
“We appreciate the patience and understanding of our members regarding the restricted capacity that is available and also the different arrangements to secure tickets this year given the unusual circumstances.”
Members can secure their tickets for Lexus Melbourne Cup Day from 10:00am tomorrow morning, with tickets sold in three stages to manage demand. Tickets for Kennedy Oaks Day go on sale on Wednesday 27 October and Paramount+ Stakes Day on Thursday 28 October. Any remaining members’ tickets will go on sale on Friday.
Members able to secure a ticket for Penfolds Victoria Derby Day are not precluded from purchasing a ticket for one of the three further days of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
All ticketing information for the Melbourne Cup Carnival is available here.
500 tickets for each race day have also been made available for the general public under the Government-approved event plan, with the general public allocation on-sale on Friday 29 October.
“Following the strong demand for tickets to the first day of Cup Week and a smooth on-sale process, we are now looking forward to the on-sale for the next three days, starting with the ‘race that stops a nation’™, Lexus Melbourne Cup Day, which goes on sale to VRC members tomorrow,” Mr Rosich said.
“We are delighted to be able to welcome back racing fans for world-class racing across all four days of the 2021 Melbourne Cup Carnival, showcasing our city and demonstrating to the rest of Australia and the world that Victoria is open for business.”
