Adelaide Cup Weekend - SAJC weigh in

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/superracing/peacock-cup-date-must-be-changed/story-fn67mcwv-1226010609342
SOUTH Australian Jockey Club chairman David Peacock says the Adelaide Cup must move back to May from 2013 - with or without the public holiday - and he will be asking his board to endorse that view.
Peacock confirmed yesterday the SAJC board would meet tomorrow night to discuss the move, after the State Government announced last month that the race-day public holiday was to remain in March.
The SAJC and Thoroughbred Racing SA had sought to shift the race and the public holiday back to their traditional date in May, citing decreasing crowds and competition from other prominent events such as the Clipsal 500 and the Fringe Festival.
Peacock believes the Adelaide Cup should return to May and could be run on a weekend.
"While (the SAJC) has had a good relationship with and support from the Mike Rann Government over the years, I think they have backed the wrong horse," Peacock said.
"There is an overwhelming case for the Adelaide Cup to move back to May and if that means running it on a Saturday or a Sunday without the public holiday, then so be it.
"It's something we'll have to consider and we'll be doing so on Thursday night."
If the SAJC board votes in favour of the switch, the motion will be put to the TRSA board for approval. It would then need to be approved by the Australian Racing Board.
Neither the SAJC nor TRSA has given up hope of the government changing its mind and switching the public holiday to May and both parties plan to meet new Racing Minister Tom Kenyon to discuss the subject in the next month.
The Adelaide Cup and the associated public holiday were first moved to March in 2006.
The inaugural March event attracted a crowd of 32,000 but only 18,000 attended last year's
SOUTH Australian Jockey Club chairman David Peacock says the Adelaide Cup must move back to May from 2013 - with or without the public holiday - and he will be asking his board to endorse that view.
Peacock confirmed yesterday the SAJC board would meet tomorrow night to discuss the move, after the State Government announced last month that the race-day public holiday was to remain in March.
The SAJC and Thoroughbred Racing SA had sought to shift the race and the public holiday back to their traditional date in May, citing decreasing crowds and competition from other prominent events such as the Clipsal 500 and the Fringe Festival.
Peacock believes the Adelaide Cup should return to May and could be run on a weekend.
"While (the SAJC) has had a good relationship with and support from the Mike Rann Government over the years, I think they have backed the wrong horse," Peacock said.
"There is an overwhelming case for the Adelaide Cup to move back to May and if that means running it on a Saturday or a Sunday without the public holiday, then so be it.
"It's something we'll have to consider and we'll be doing so on Thursday night."
If the SAJC board votes in favour of the switch, the motion will be put to the TRSA board for approval. It would then need to be approved by the Australian Racing Board.
Neither the SAJC nor TRSA has given up hope of the government changing its mind and switching the public holiday to May and both parties plan to meet new Racing Minister Tom Kenyon to discuss the subject in the next month.
The Adelaide Cup and the associated public holiday were first moved to March in 2006.
The inaugural March event attracted a crowd of 32,000 but only 18,000 attended last year's