Thousands of Australians missed out on watching this year’s Melbourne Cup after they did not realise that the race was not being shown on Channel Seven – with some blaming the broadcaster for their mistake.
Some racing fanatics lashed out at the broadcaster last year after the television channel aired live horse racing from other venues around Australia.
Fans had settled in for an afternoon of racing action, believing that the cameras would switch to Flemington for the start of the Cup.
But many were left scratching their heads after Channel Seven did not show the race, with some viewers forgetting that the rights had belonged to Channel 10 since 2019, with Nine screening the race this year.
The same has happened again in 2024, with many fans once again missing out on the $8.5million event.
Racing fans appeared to once again be caught out by the broadcast changes to the Melbourne Cup
Channel Nine showcased Robbie Dolan and Knight’s Chance’s epic ride on Tuesday, with the outsider clinching the Melbourne Cup – but many Aussies missed out on seeing it
Some viewers didn’t switch over from Channel Seven to Channel Nine for the big race, with many forgetting that the former no longer has the broadcast rights
Channel Nine took over the rights to Australia’s great race for 2024, with $81 outsider Knight’s Chance upsetting the odds to clinch a dramatic victory.
Fans were caught out by the broadcasting change again, with some left scratching their heads over how they managed to miss the race.
‘Been watching Channel 7 for three hours only to realise the bloody Melbourne Cup is on Channel 9. Missed the whole thing. Sums up the day really,’ one wrote on X.
‘Hardly a day that stops the nation if competing networks are showing a completely different race meet. Bruce [McAvaney] commentating really threw me,’ he added.
Channel Seven had instead shown The Big Dance at Randwick and several other races from around the country.
‘This happens every year, they nearly got me today lol,’ another joked.
Another wrote: ‘The race that stops a nation (Until some of the nation realise too late they’ve been watching the wrong horse race meeting on Channel Seven instead of Channel Nine).’
Several on X (formerly Twitter) joked that the situation ‘happens every year’ with one claiming ‘they nearly got me today lol’
‘I think channel seven should not be allowed to have a program called ‘Seven’s Horse Racing’ on at the same time as The Melbourne Cup,’ one wrote.
But it appeared to be a huge day for some punters, despite the favourites Vauban and Buckeroo both falling back in the race. One individual took home a huge $3.2million dividend off a $100 bet after he correctly predicted the first for finishers for Tuesday’s race.
Knight’s Choice placed first, followed by Warp Speed, Okita Souchi and Zardozi.
Speaking on his win, Dolan, who had also appeared on The Voice, admitted his elation: ‘If you’re willing to work hard, you’ll be rewarded.
‘I could have easily given up riding to do the music, but I just loved it too much,’ he said, speaking on a potential carer change into music. ‘Pinch me, I’m dreaming… I can’t believe it,’ he told Channel Nine.
‘I think I’ll be singing for the rest of my life after that. What the hell.’
