Horse racing is an incredibly popular sport in Australia. It is believed to have been around since the late 1700s, with the first recorded race taking place in 1810. Since then, the sport has grown to become one of the most popular sports in Australia, with an estimated 2 million Australians attending race meetings each year.
The sport of horse racing in Australia is regulated by the Australian Racing Board (ARB) which sets and enforces the rules and regulations for the sport. There are currently six state-based racing authorities in Australia responsible for the day-to-day running of the sport; Racing NSW, Racing Victoria, Racing Queensland, Racing South Australia, Racing WA and Racing Tasmania.
Horse Racing on Christmas Day in Australia
Horse racing events are held regularly throughout the year in Australia. However, there is no horse racing in Australia on Christmas Day.
This is due to the fact that Christmas Day is a public holiday in Australia and all racing bodies have agreed that no horse racing will take place on this day. This decision was made out of respect for the many people who celebrate Christmas Day as a religious holiday.
Reasons Why Horse Racing Isn’t Held on Christmas Day
There are several reasons why horse racing is not held on Christmas Day in Australia. These include:
- Religious Respect: As mentioned above, Christmas Day is a religious holiday in Australia and the decision not to hold horse racing on this day is out of respect for those who celebrate it.
- Safety: Horse racing is an inherently dangerous sport and the racing bodies believe that having races on Christmas Day could put both horse and jockey at risk.
- Horse Welfare: Horses require time to rest and recover between races, and having a race on Christmas Day could put the horses at risk of injury or exhaustion.
- Workforce Availability: Horse racing is a labour-intensive sport and many of the people involved in the sport work on a freelance or casual basis. On Christmas Day, many of these workers will be unavailable due to holiday commitments.
- Public Interest: On Christmas Day, many people are focused on spending time with family and friends and won’t be interested in attending a horse racing event.
Alternative Horse Racing Events on Christmas Day
Although there is no horse racing in Australia on Christmas Day, there are still plenty of other horse racing events that can be enjoyed on this day.
For example, many racecourses in Australia will hold Christmas race meetings on Boxing Day (the day after Christmas Day). This is the perfect way to get in the festive spirit and enjoy some horse racing.
In addition, Australia is home to some of the world’s best virtual horse racing events. These virtual events are held online, so you don’t have to leave the comfort of your own home to join in the fun.
Popular Horse Racing Events on Christmas Day
Some of the most popular horse racing events held on Boxing Day in Australia include:
- The Magic Millions Race Day: Held annually on the Gold Coast, this is one of the biggest horse racing events of the year. It features a number of high-profile races, including the Magic Millions Cup, the Magic Millions Classic and the Magic Millions Sprint.
- The Melbourne Cup: Held on the first Tuesday in November, the Melbourne Cup is one of the most prestigious horse races in the world and attracts thousands of spectators each year.
- The Victoria Derby: Held on the first Saturday in November, this race is the oldest and most prestigious of the three Melbourne major races. It has been run since 1855 and is the feature race of the Victoria Derby Day.
- The Adelaide Cup: Held annually on the second Monday in March, the Adelaide Cup is the second oldest horse race in Australia and the feature race of Adelaide Cup Day.
- The Cox Plate: Held annually on the second Saturday in October, the Cox Plate is Australia’s most prestigious weight-for-age race and the feature race of Cox Plate Day.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there is no horse racing in Australia on Christmas Day. This is due to the fact that Christmas Day is a public holiday in Australia and all racing bodies have agreed that no horse racing will take place on this day.
However, there are still plenty of other horse racing events that can be enjoyed on Christmas Day, such as virtual horse racing events and race meetings held on Boxing Day.
References
- Australian Racing Board. (n.d.). Horse Racing in Australia. Retrieved from https://www.australianracingboard.com.au/about/australian-racing-overview/
- Racing NSW. (n.d.). Christmas Day Race Meetings. Retrieved from https://www.racingnsw.com.au/racing/christmas-day-race-meetings
- Adelaide Cup. (n.d.). About the Adelaide Cup. Retrieved from https://www.adelaidecup.org.au/about/
- Melbourne Cup. (n.d.). About the Melbourne Cup. Retrieved from https://www.melbournecup.com/about/
- Racing Victoria. (n.d.). Cox Plate. Retrieved from https://www.racingvictoria.net.au/racing/cox-plate