It's hard to picture punters staying seated if their horse wins Tuesday's Melbourne Cup but that's exactly what they'll have to do due to COVID-19 restrictions.
The race that stops a nation will look a bit different this year both at Flemington, where there will be no crowd, and in Newcastle and Hunter venues, where patrons will need to remain in their chairs to watch the event.
Hotel Delany licensee Joshua Redman said he expected it to be difficult keeping spectators off their feet.
"Especially if it's a close race," he said. "I think emotions will get the best of people."
But he said staff would do their best and that the pub had hired extra TVs to ensure everyone could see the action.
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The venue has booked out at 195, which is the maximum allowed in the space due to social distancing restrictions. Visitors could choose tickets for a food package, drinks package or a table of 10.
"Obviously we can't jam people in like sardines anymore," he said. "We've also had to cancel the fashions on the field this year and unfortunately there'll be no red carpet. But hopefully we can do them again next year.
"The only tradition we're able to do is sweeps."
The Wickham Park Hotel's event also looks set to sell out with about 300 race watchers set to descend on the venue.
It's the first time the Wicko has held a ticketed event, which publican/licensee Grant Pilon said helped to ensure the venue stayed below its limit.
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The pub will hold a fashion parade, sweeps, trivia, door prizes and live music on the day.
Mr Pilon said after the loss of trade with Wickham Park's This That being cancelled this year, it will be good to have the venue booming for the cup.
"It's been really hard, obviously we're restricted with what we can do, but hopefully the weather holds out and we have a really good day," he said.
The Queens Wharf Hotel's private function has also sold out. The hotel will have games, best dressed competitions, hay bales, "plenty of champagne" and even a horse named Chester.
"Let's just say he's not a real horse," Publican Steve Smyth said.
Mr Smyth said said the recently-introduced two square metre rule change for outdoor spaces meant they could have more people on the wharf than inside this year, with almost 170 patrons across both spaces.
The sell out comes after the pub took a hit after it was named on the COVID-19 watchlist back in August. Mr Smyth said he got on the front foot to reassure visitors the pub was well-regulated and was pleased that things had since recovered.
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