Spring racing surge as females fly highest

By the Editorial Team · Saturday, October 31, 2026

The Sydney Spring Carnival is seeing a surge in younger and female attendees, with a record 62 percent of presales for The Big Dance event purchased by women and a 28 percent rise in premium hospitality bookings for the Golden Eagle race day. This increased interest, driven by the success of The Everest race and the festival's evolving atmosphere, is helping Sydney strengthen its position against Melbourne’s spring racing events while supporting charitable causes through prize money donations.

The Sydney Spring Carnival is experiencing a notable increase in attendance by female patrons and younger audiences, particularly those aged 30 and under, as the racing festival marks a decade since its reimagination. Organisers report a significant rise in hospitality zone ticket sales for today’s $10 million Golden Eagle race day at Royal Randwick, along with a record 62 percent of presales for The Big Dance event, scheduled for Tuesday at the same venue, being purchased by women.

This growth follows momentum generated by Sydney’s premier race day, The $20 million Everest, held two weeks ago. The success of The Everest and the festival atmosphere established over the past decade are credited with reversing Sydney’s historical disadvantage compared to Melbourne’s spring racing events.

Hospitality bookings in premium areas for the Golden Eagle have increased by 28 percent compared to previous years, while general admission sales for last Saturday’s Rosehill Gardens race meeting are also tracking ahead of expectations.

Among the attendees at Royal Randwick today is 7NEWS Sydney weekend co-anchor Angie Asimus. Earlier this month, Asimus participated in a promotional photo shoot with a 4.5-kilogram eagle named Xena, wearing a custom-made gold gown by designer Mariam Seddiq. She described the experience as both stunning and intimidating, noting the physical challenge of holding the bird of prey. Asimus plans to wear the same gown during her visit to the Golden Eagle, fitting in the race day around her news commitments.

Having covered multiple Melbourne Cup carnivals, Asimus remarked on the growing appeal of Sydney’s spring racing scene. She highlighted Royal Randwick’s atmosphere and the event’s dynamic environment during this period of the year. Additionally, she praised the charity element of the Golden Eagle race day, with 10 percent of the prize money being donated to nominated charitable organizations.

“It’s so fantastic to get dressed up, catch up with your friends and watch sport, but also knowing you’re doing a little bit of good and there’s a worthy cause behind it,” Asimus said, reflecting a broader trend of sporting events aligning with charitable initiatives to enhance community engagement.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.