Victorian Spring Racing Carnival - Feeling blue at the races.

The Victorian Spring Racing Carnival is a massive nine weeks of horses, hats, and huge cameras. We were thrilled to join 25,000 other keen racegoers for the Beck Caulfield Guineas Day. Not least because the Caulfield Guineas is a top racing day, but especially as our very own Little Miss Hussy is entered for one of the lead up races.

Fashions are a huge part of the day, with strict dress codes for those planning to be in Members’. Whilst the popular ‘Fashions on the Field‘ competitions are not for everyone, it is fair to say that for the most part making an effort in appearance is, in some way or another, part of the day.

My own ‘What am I going to wear?‘ fashion dilemmas, have been blogged to death. However today I am sporting a new black and white fascinator which I am very happy about because it modernises my look by a good ten years, and doesn’t give me a cracking headache like my hats or the hairbands!

Looking around, the majority of women arrive dressed to the nines in pretty, floaty, colourful frocks and various spectacular items of millinery. The men have scrubbed up equally as well in smart shirts, ties, tailored trousers, jackets or suits and occasionally a hat too!

It was a perfect sunny October day and it was going to be great to see our horse finally back on track after her interrupted Spring training. Here we are rocking up to our fifth racecourse, having watched our filly win as a two year old at Sandown and Caulfield previously. She came second a few weeks ago at Moonee Valley and third at Morphettville, in South Australia.

Hats, horses and huge cameras at Spring Racing Carnival

Racehorse ownership is full of excitement and definitely you have to take any highs with the majority of lows that you inevitably get.

Over the years we’ve had our share of bad luck when it comes to racehorse ownership. We had a horse with ability who became injured, (once after he kicked himself in the stable!) Another horse who never lived up to his full potential, and now we are faced with the situation that the best horse we’ve ever owned, got a slight sniffle a few weeks ago, right in the middle of her vital preparation for the Spring Racing Carnival.

It is rather like getting glandular fever (mono) in Year 12, there is not much that can be done about it, other than time and rest, neither of which is freely available when you have race deadlines. So despite the horse being turned out for rest, relaxation and recovery, and clearing all vet’s inspections prior to racing, she came a disappointing fifth in her race on Saturday. She is now back out at grass until the autumn enjoying a spell with the spring sun on her back.

Jockeys and TV camera’s

We drowned our sorrows at the extremely crowded Connections Owners’ Pavilion, which is a covered alfresco area with lounge seating, food and bar facilities, bookmakers and most important to us, huge TV screens so we can watch again and again, the replays of the race.

We remembered wistfully the last time we were at Caulfield in the BMW Winning Owners Bar, an exclusive area rather different to what we experienced on Saturday. With 55,000 thoroughbred racehorse owners in the State, racehorse ownership is clearly thriving in Victoria!

Having said that, we were treated to a glass of bubbly and a lovely gourmet barbecue by the Melbourne Racing Club followed by afternoon tea which cheered us up. It is hard not to enjoy the Spring Racing Carnival!

We watched some of the best horses around and the day ended with a concert from Aussie band Birds of Tokyo.

Our lass bottom left and right before and after her race

So that’s it! We now have our weekends back, no kids sport, no horse racing, It’s a while till the Test Cricket and even longer to the Aussie Open tennis.
What shall we do? Do you fancy coming surfing?
Here is a photo from our recent weekend at Wilson’s Prom.
We do have the whole summer ahead – so life’s pretty good here!