The council has returned the public holiday to Melbourne Cup Day instead of the local event, despite its previous decision to reallocate the holiday to the Horsham Cup for a three-year period. 

The public holiday was trialled for the first time last year, however, the decision received backlash from the community.

The council decided, at its latest meeting on Monday night, to realign the public holiday with the Melbourne Cup. The decision came after feedback from Business Horsham and Wimmera Racing.

The state government allows councils to take the Melbourne Cup public holiday on an alternate day of their choice. 

Mayor Pam Clarke said the decision to support one business to the detriment of another was not the right decision. She said the council would work with Horsham and District Racing Club to find alternative solutions to help the Cup day prosper. 

Cr Clarke said council intends to build on the Destination Horsham tourism campaign, which aimed at attracting race-goers to other events taking place during the extended cup weekend. She said the campaign was a success and would make it an even better weekend in Horsham this year.  

Cr Alethea Gulvin said an early decision to return the public holiday to Melbourne Cup Day provided enough time for the community to make changes without ramifications.

She said the council needed to take proactive steps for a united community that supported local events and each other equally. 

Read more: Mixed response to the Horsham Cup public holiday

Cr David Grimble said the decision last year caused confusion, however, there was an opportunity to transition the change over a two-year period. 

“We support businesses in many things, which may not support other parts of the municipality,” he said. 

“The racing club generates a significant economic prosperity in the region and we are turning our back on that.

“I think we can work harder and smarter and have a serious review in 12 months time.”

Read more: Trade largely unchanged for Horsham Cup public holiday

Cr John Robinson said the confusion last year was expected because it was the first of its kind. He said having a conversation with the racing club at the two-year mark was needed. 

Crs Mark Radford, Josh Koenig, Gulvin and Clarke voted to return the public holiday to Melbourne Cup Day while crs Les Power, Robinson and Grimble voted against the motion. 

Horsham District and Racing Club manager Lisa Inkster said the organisation was “extremely disappointed” that the decision was reversed when the club had been granted the holiday for two years with a review for a third year. 

“We are looking positively to the immediate future to work closely with local businesses to deliver an event that is successful for all participants and find a future home for the Horsham Cup,” she said.