Melbourne Cup Carnival is a chance for CEO Kylie Rogers to ‘learn and listen’

The first of four racing days of the 2024 Melbourne Cup Carnival gets underway at Flemington on Saturday and few will be more excited about it than the new CEO of the Victorian Racing Club (VRC).

Kylie Rogers, the former AFL executive who took over as VRC chief executive in September, is heading to her first carnival since taking up the role.

Victoria Derby Day on Saturday kicks off the Melbourne Cup Carnival, followed by Melbourne Cup Day on Tuesday, Oaks Day on Thursday and Stakes Day the following Saturday.

Rogers steps into the role at a time when questions are being raised about the popularity of gambling and Racing NSW turning Sydney into a spring holiday destination.

But Rodgers told ABC Sport this week she wants to learn from her first Melbourne Cup carnival.

“I have 60 days of work, so I am fully energized. I know and love what Melbourne Carnival has to offer. I just can’t wait to become CEO and lead this great organization,” she said.

“We’re going to welcome over 260,000 people to the park and I know they’re going to have a great time. So I will watch, learn, listen and enjoy.”

Melbourne has been the epicenter of spring racing for decades, with the Melbourne Cup Carnival a standout week.

But the emergence of Everest, a 1200m sprint event at Randwick in Sydney, has captured the northern public’s attention in recent years.

The race, led by Racing NSW chief executive Peter V’landys, was the world’s richest on turf.

Rogers said she believed Melbourne and Sydney could co-exist as spring racing venues, but she warned that eating each other would do no one any good.

“I watched (Everest) with interest… and am looking forward to going next year. Hats off to what Peter (V’landys) did. It’s fantastic for racing in Australia,” Rogers said.

“The Melbourne Cup Carnival has a tradition. We are 164 years old and we want to celebrate. Nobody can take that away from us.

“So I think the two can work hand in hand, there is an offer for everyone and that is good for racing in general.

“We don’t want to see cannibalism, I don’t think it’s fair to the patron. “Hopefully we can find a way to compete in a way that doesn’t leave the horse and racing lover behind.”

The Melbourne Cup Carnival begins on Saturday with Derby Day, headlined by the Group 1 Victoria Derby.

Melbourne Cup Day is Tuesday 5 November.

The Melbourne Cup takes place on Tuesday at 3pm AEDT.

Listen to live coverage of the 2024 Melbourne Cup on ABC Radio, ABC Sport Digital and the ABC Listen app from 2.30pm to 3.30pm AEDT on Tuesday 5 November.