If the motion is successful, Horsham council will write to Small Business, Innovation and Trade Minister Philip Dalidakis requesting that November 3, 2017, for the Horsham Cup be substituted as a full-day public holiday in lieu of Melbourne Cup.

The 2017 Melbourne Cup is on November 7.

Horsham council would also request that the Horsham Racing Cup Friday be a full-day public holiday for the whole of the municipality for 2018 and 2019.

If the request is granted, the new public holiday would only apply within Horsham Rural City Council’s boundaries.

In a report to councillors, corporate services director Graeme Harrison said council had previously moved to retain the Melbourne Cup holiday for 2014 to 2016. 

“Council has received a request from the Horsham and District Racing Club regarding the consideration of a half day holiday for the Horsham Cup in 2017,” he stated.

“Council at its meeting on March 6 resolved to conduct an online survey to seek community feedback on possible alternative dates in lieu of Melbourne Cup holiday.”

Mr Harrison, in his report, said the survey received 535 responses, of which 29 per cent were from business owners and 74 per cent were from people over 30 years of age. The most respondents, 36.8 per cent, voted to keep Melbourne Cup day as a holiday.

Moving the holiday to Horsham Cup Day was the second most favoured option at 29.7 per cent, with Wimmera Machinery Field Days at just over 20 per cent.

The Mail-Times ran its own poll in early April, with just over 50 per cent of respondents voting to keep the Melbourne Cup holiday