The scratching of Universal Prince from the Melbourne Cup is unlikely to prompt a rethink about listing emergencies for the race, says a Victoria Racing Club spokesman.
Universal Prince was withdrawn on the morning of the cup after veterinary surgeons ruled the horse unfit to take his place in the field.
Because
emergencies are not listed for the Melbourne Cup there was no horse to replace him.
Kaapstad Way was also a late scratching - because of the wet track - and it would have been too late for another horse to take his place in the field.
It was the second year in a row that fewer than the maximum number of 24 had started. There were also two late scratchings last year.
Victoria Racing Club racing manager James Earls said the technicalities of listing more than 24 runners were not the problem.
The issue was there being no surprises for punters, who were being encouraged to bet the day before the race.
"The technical problem of extra numbers can be overcome. But in the absence of a better argument, I can't see the policy changing."
Earls said whether a field was reduced to 23 or 22 runners was not of great concern.
"How many horses do you want? If you have got 22 or 23 horses running around, that's a lot of horses.
"It's not a big issue as far as we are concerned but if punters indicate it is, we will look at it again."
- NZPA
