How The Everest plans to smash a crowd record at Randwick with a radical change borrowed from the world-famous Kentucky Derby race
Organisers of The Everest are planning a huge change to the event which would allow the race to be run in front of 50,000 people and smash the crowd record at Royal Randwick.
The stage is set for a riveting seventh running of The Everest this weekend, and Racing NSW and the Australian Turf Club have revealed they are in discussions about opening up the infield to punters, just like the famous Kentucky Derby.
The move, which could happen as early as next year, will mean the the world's richest turf race could be run in front of 50,000 punters - 5000 more than the crowd expected this Saturday.
The Kentucky Derby, one of the world's premier horse races, gives racegoers the opportunity to view the contest from the middle of the Churchill Downs track - and Racing NSW boss Peter V'landys and ATC chairman Peter McGauran believe that The Everest could do something similar.
'We want it, but we didn't want to rush it this year,' McGauran told Sydney Morning Herald.
The Everest plans to break crowd records at Randwick with a Kentucky Derby-style plan (pictured, spectators at last year's Everest)
The Kentucky Derby (pictured) allows racegoers to view the action from the infield at the famous Churchill Downs track
'We've had a good look at the Kentucky experience and there's definitely scope for it because it's relaxed. You can go in your sneakers, jeans and a shirt. It's less expensive.
'Even if we run at a loss, but bring in 4000 or 5000 who wouldn't otherwise come to the races, then it's a worthwhile exercise in crowd development.
'We'll work on it and I think it's more likely than not we'll have an infield crowd in time. It's all doable, and we would love to have it.'
The set-up at Royal Randwick will pose some difficulties, including the presence of training tracks and a car park inside the course.
The Australian Turf Club also has an LED screen that runs along the inside of the straight - meaning an elevated structure will need to be installed to allow infield crowds to see the action.
Officials are also making plans as to how best bring crowds to the area, as they wouldn't be able to access it from the Alison Road side.
'It does make it difficult, but nothing is impossible,' V'landys said.
'We've already built the Winx Stand, which can hold up to 6000 people, and if it can be done having more people on track with the use of the infield, we'll definitely do it.'
The move will mean the the world's richest turf race could be run in front of 50,000 punters (pictured, Giga Kick wins the 2022 Everest)
Officials say the Kentucky Derby-style plan could be acted upon as soon as next year (pictured, fans at the 2022 Everest)
The Everest is expected to be run in front of a crowd of around 45,000 fans on Saturday (pictured, happy spectators leave last year's race)
Meanwhile, racing icon John Singleton says he will buy 40,000 fans a drink at Randwick Racecourse if his horse wins at The Everest on Saturday.
The advertising guru's nag Hawaii Five Oh is paying $12 to take out the race - and he'll be stuck with a bill of more than $300,000 if the stallion salutes in the $20million contest.
Singleton is no stranger to shouting the bar for punters and his latest promise is a response to a similar move by the Australian Turf Club.
The ATC will buy its members a drink if Overpass, another of the leading contenders in the race, takes the title.
