Just a little fun

By Bridget Brady
A LITTLE race has caused a lot of controversy at Cranbourne, but organisers maintain it was all in the name of fun.
The Little Cup became a talking point two days after the event when Racing Minister Rob Hulls slammed the race that saw three small-statured people dressed as jockeys race on the backs of three punters at the luxbet.com Cranbourne Cup.
Mr Hulls said the racing industry should rethink an event like the Little Cup.
“I wouldn’t have thought this type of event does anything to promote the racing industry as being sophisticated, as being innovative and as being modern,” Mr Hulls said.
But Racing Victoria’s general manager of marketing Stuart Laing said the race was “a bit of fun”.
“It was intended as a bit of harmless fun. It certainly was not meant to poke fun at people. We understand that you can’t please everyone and some people do not always like everything you do,” Mr Laing said.
Cranbourne Turf Club chief executive Neil Bainbridge said the club expressed some concerns about the event with Racing Victoria and was somewhat surprised with the level of media attention.
“The club apologises if any offence has been taken by anyone. It certainly wasn’t the intention to offend anyone,” Mr Bainbridge said.
“This was an initiative conducted by the Racing Victoria marketing department. It was not an initiative driven or created by the Cranbourne Turf Club.”
The race was created after Tommy Little won a competition to be the Spring Racing Carnival spruiker. The Little Cup was derived from his surname.
“Part of what he is meant to do as spruiker to the Spring Racing Carnival is some interesting and fun things to engage the audience,” Mr Laing said.
The small-statured people who participated were paid actors and dismissed the race as good fun, saying they were not offended.
“If anyone has been offended by that then we apologise,” Mr Laing said.