Crowd numbers were up 8 per cent from last year as 45 police officers worked with liquor providers to avoid a spike in poor behaviour around closing time.
Gates opened at 7.30am with the first event of a nine-race local card starting at 11.30am.
At noon, all eyes turned to the Flemington Racecourse for the Melbourne Cup. This was followed by the day’s feature, the $150,000 Group 3 Toll – Colonel Reeves Stakes, won by Shining Knight, owned by Bob Peters.
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READ NOWThroughout the day, chefs served about 600 dozen shucked oysters, 3000 serves of hot chips and 12,000 petit fours.
Belmont Police conducted an operation at Ascot involving officers on foot inside the grounds and a Traffic Enforcement Group deployment on the streets around the venue.
‘Crowd behaviour on the day was good,’ acting Sergeant Greg Jack said.
‘In the past, crowd management has become difficult as the afternoon progressed and patrons became more intoxicated.
‘Closing time is traditionally our busiest time.
‘We aimed to reduce our workload at closing time this year by engaging with the liquor licensee to ensure responsible service and by proactive targeting of disorderly patrons early in the afternoon.’
He said there were more charges this year than last.
2014 Melbourne Cup Day vs 2013 Cup Day at AscotPatrons: 18,870 (17,695)Arrests: 3 (6)Summons: 14 (5)Move on Orders: 23 (26)Charges:8 x Disorderly behaviour3 x Failing to leave a licensed premises2 x Obstructing police2 x Possessing prohibited drug (ecstasy)1 x Assaulting a police officer (minor)1 x Damage1 x Breach of Move on Order