Racing club fights to save public holiday as council launches survey

Bendigo Jockey Club (BJC) is bracing for battle in a bid to preserve a public holiday for its most eminent race meeting of the year – Bendigo Cup day.

The long-standing cup day public holiday is under threat as the City of Greater Bendigo undertakes a survey of residents to gauge support for either the retention of the status quo or a change to Bendigo Show Day or Melbourne Cup Day.

Launched this week, the survey – open until 9 August – is being run through the council’s Let’s Talk Greater Bendigo web page.

Under current arrangements, local governments outside Melbourne can apply to swap Melbourne Cup Day with a local public holiday.

 

In Bendigo, that has long been local cup day, which falls on the Wednesday before Melbourne Cup day, held on the first Tuesday of November.

The council has in the past applied to make Bendigo Cup day the holiday, doing so for five years at a time.

Council’s previous five-year approval expired on 2025 Bendigo Cup day, with a one-year extension granted to ensure the public holiday remains in place for this year.

BJC CEO Paul Scullie said while the club welcomed the opportunity for the community to have its say on the future of Bendigo’s local public holiday, it would strongly advocate for the continuation of the Bendigo Cup Day public holiday.

“For more than 150 years, the Bendigo Cup has been one of the city’s defining annual events, bringing together sport, business, tourism and the broader community,” he said.

“Since first being run in 1868, it has grown into one of Victoria’s premier country racing events and today remains intrinsically linked to both the identity of Bendigo and the Victorian Spring Racing Carnival.

“Unlike many regional events, the success of the Bendigo Cup is closely tied to when it is held.

“Its position on the Wednesday immediately before the Melbourne Cup Carnival has evolved over many decades to become one of the country’s most important lead-up races for emerging Melbourne Cup contenders.

“That timing is not incidental; it is fundamental to the race’s significance within Australian racing.”

Officially upgraded to a Group 3 event in 2015, the Bendigo Cup has become a crucial last-chance lead-up for horses aiming to rise up the Group 1 Melbourne Cup ballot order.

 

In 2024, Macedon trainers Sheila Laxon and John Symons used the Bendigo Cup as the final lead-up run for Knight’s Choice, finishing fifth, before backing-up six days later to win the Melbourne Cup.

Sea King won the 2024 edition of the Bendigo Cup, resulting in a first Group race win for the UK trainer Harry Eustace.

Despite his unlucky run in the Melbourne Cup, the Bendigo Cup was seen as the perfect lead up for the internationally trained horse.

Other recent winners, High Emocean (2022) and Interpretation (2023) went on to finish third and sixth respectively in the Melbourne Cup, further solidifying the race’s placement on the calendar.

BJC chairman Jack Lyons said the current timing of the Bendigo Cup was one of the key reasons the event has grown in prominence.

“It provides a genuine pathway to the prestigious Melbourne Cup while attracting quality horses, interstate and international interest and thousands of visitors to Bendigo,” he said.

“Changing the public holiday away from Bendigo Cup day would diminish more than 150 years of tradition and reduce the unique opportunity our community has to celebrate one of Bendigo’s signature events.”

The current public holiday only applies to people in the part of the municipality that is west of the Campaspe River.

Those east of the Campaspe River, including Heathcote, observe the Melbourne Cup Day public holiday.

Also under consideration for a swap of the Melbourne Cup day holiday, Bendigo Show day traditionally falls around the fourth Friday in October.

Last year it was six days before the Bendigo Cup.

More than just a horse race, Scullie said cup day delivered significant economic spin-offs to the city that needed to be weighed up.

“It is one of Bendigo’s great community events and has been part of the fabric of our city for more than 150 years,” he said.

“Retaining the public holiday on Bendigo Cup Day preserves an event that delivers significant social and economic benefits to our community while recognising the unique place Bendigo holds within Victorian and Australian racing.”

Following no crowds due to COVID restrictions in 2020 and ’21 and a ’22 event impacted by floods in the region, cup day attendances in Bendigo have increased by more than 15 per cent since 2023, with more than 6500 people attending in 2025.

Approximately 30 per cent of attendees travelled from outside Bendigo, generating overnight stays, increased visitation and expenditure across accommodation providers, hospitality venues, retailers and tourism operators.

Equally important, according to Scullie, is the strong support from the local community, with the event providing an opportunity for businesses to reward staff, entertain clients and bring people together for one of Bendigo’s premier annual events.

“The event also provides substantial employment opportunities, engaging hundreds of casual staff and contractors each year while prioritising local suppliers for catering, security, infrastructure, cleaning, transport and event services,” he said.

“This ensures the economic benefits generated by Bendigo Cup day remain within the local community.

“Beyond the racecourse, Bendigo Cup Day has become one of the city’s great social occasions.

“Local businesses from cafes and restaurants to hairdressers, beauticians, fashion retailers and accommodation providers, all benefit from the increased activity created by a major event that encourages people to celebrate locally.”

The BJC has won early support in its bid to retain the status quo from Country Racing Victoria (CRV), which represents the state’s 66 country thoroughbred racing clubs.

 

CRV CEO Scott Whiteman on Monday said he was eager for more details from the council, but pledged to work with all parties

“I’m not sure why (the council are doing this), but obviously we will work with the Bendigo Jockey Club and the racing industry to get a better understanding of the issue and determine our pathway and responses thereafter.

“The (Bendigo Cup day) holiday has been very successful in our minds, not only for the racing industry, but the Bendigo community.

“The race has turned into a great race and it’s well positioned leading into the Melbourne Cup, so we’d be loathe to see it alter at this point in time.

“It’s certainly one of the highlights of not only the country racing calendar, but the wider industry’s racing calendar.

“It’s a perfect lead in to the Melbourne Cup weekend, coming in front of it.

“It has served its purpose very well and I’m sure Bendigonians would be very proud of the day.”

The City of Greater Bendigo is urging residents, businesses, schools and organisations to have their say in the survey.

Corporate performance director Angela Hays said this year’s extension had been sought so public consultation on the local public holiday could take place for a longer-term decision.

“This one-year extension gives us more time to ask the community which day they would prefer starting from 2027 – Bendigo Cup, Bendigo Show Day or Melbourne Cup Day,” she said.

“Residents need to be aware that this survey only applies to the part of Greater Bendigo that is west of the Campaspe River – this is the area that has a local public holiday to date.”

“Approval for a local public holiday is generally granted for five years at a time, so it is important that a broad cross-section of the community complete the survey including residents, businesses and a variety of organisations from across Greater Bendigo.

“Survey responses and comments submitted through Let’s Talk will be provided to councillors to help inform their decision on local public holiday arrangements from 2027 at a future council meeting.”

To complete the survey, visit letstalkgreaterbendigo.com.au/local-public-holiday