There will be increased security measures at racecourse entries on Friday, including age verification checkpoints.

Albury Racing Club chief executive John Miller yesterday said the racecourse was a licensed premises and racegoers were effectively walking into a hotel and were therefore subject to strict rules.

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The club had chosen to take a proactive approach to enforcing the ban on unaccompanied minors this year after several incidents at previous meetings.

“We’ve had some parents who have bought alcohol for their kids and we’ve had parents drop their 16 and 17-year-olds off at the gate,” Mr Miller said.

“The simple way of looking at this is we are a licensed venue so as soon as you walk though the turnstiles it’s like walking through the front door of a pub.

“If 15 or 16-year-old kids get dropped off, are they allowed to walk through the front door of a pub without their parents or a responsible adult? No, so that’s all it is.”

He said the club also became aware of a Facebook group where more than 50 high school students organised to go to last year’s Gold Cup unsupervised.

“Everyone will have to go through a security checkpoint upon entry, so it might take a bit longer for people to get in but we have to take that measure to eliminate this type of behaviour,” Mr Miller said.

Licensing officer Sgt Steve McCaig, of Albury police, also said there had been concerns about unsupervised minors at the meeting, which attracts up to 20,000 people.

“We have had some issues and we’re working hard with the race club to address that,” he said.

Sgt McCaig said adults who supplied alcohol to minors faced an $1100 fine and minors caught drinking a $220 fine.

“We certainly want people to have a good time but violence won’t be tolerated,” he said.

“People should be able to enjoy themselves without putting up with serious levels of intoxication and violence.

Mr Miller said some race clubs, including the Coffs Harbour club, had gone as far as banning anyone under 18 from its race days.

Unaccompanied minors were also banned last year from attending the Caulfield spring racing carnival.

“I’m against that, I think it’s against the fabric of racing,” Mr Miller said.

“We don’t want to stop kids from coming.

“But they shouldn’t be coming if they think they’re going to get served alcohol.”

Editorial — page 38