WODONGA and District Turf Club wants to have a public holiday for its annual cup meeting, with the aim of replicating the success of the Albury Gold Cup.
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The campaign will be launched on Thursday when Wodonga businesses will be sent a survey asking their opinion about a day off for the Wodonga Cup in lieu of the Melbourne Cup public holiday.
Wodonga Chamber of Commerce will collate the results to determine if a formal approach is made to Wodonga Council seeking its support.
The Wodonga Cup is held on a Sunday in late November or early December.
Club general manager Tom O’Connor hopes the meeting might be switched to a Friday at the same time of the year.
That would elevate the status of the event to that of the Albury Gold Cup, which has been supported by a half-day holiday since 1998.
EDITORIAL: Cup holiday idea raised
Mr O’Connor said other Victorian regional centres — Bendigo, Geelong, Warrnambool and Kyneton — had already given up the Melbourne Cup holiday to have a day off for their city’s cup meeting.
“Our current cup day on a Sunday has limitations to involve business,” he said.
“They are hesitant to get involved as the current date is in and around your end of year, Christmas party time.
“And being a Sunday, obviously the next day is a working day.
“Our event at its current level is quite successful and profitable.
“But to take the event to the next level there is a proven formula around the state and across the border in Albury.”
The Wodonga Cup was previously held on a Monday before the switch was made to Sunday in the late 1990s.
The idea then was to tap into the Christmas party market.
The average Wodonga Cup Day attendance of about 2500 is well below the 15,000-plus who consistently attend the Albury Gold Cup.
Mr O’Connor said club members would also be consulted.
“The feedback will determine what the next step will be,” he said.
“If the next step is positive we’ll go to council with the feedback and see what potential dates are out there.
“The racing industry would support us if we put the right case forward.
“The Warrnambool carnival is one the industry hangs its hat on as being successful and something they have grown over the years, just like NSW with Albury.”
In 2011, Victoria amended the Public Holidays Act 1993 to give regional councils the ability to request alternative public holiday arrangements in lieu of Melbourne Cup Day.
Wodonga Chamber of Commerce business manager Bernie Squire said the survey would be circulated to members via its weekly e-news-letter.
“In principle we think it is a very good idea,” he said.
“But we will wait and see what the consensus of local business is first.”