Andisa Posted September 23, 2011 Share Posted September 23, 2011 (edited) Well this was supposed to be my first Royal Melbourne Show and I was really looking forward to it, so was Tracy. The clock was set for 4.30am (earlier for Tracy), everything ready and waiting for pickup and off we go all excited about our big day. We arrived at the gates nice and early by 6am and were back home again by 7.30am... We could have done what others were doing - park in the drop off/pick up area. Unload dogs and equipment and move the car SOME WHERE and move it again later - and risk parking fines or towing. We started to unpack, found our benches but since we had no where to leave the car we decided "stuff it". Entries are not cheap - $30 entry fee per dog - is it too much to ask for to have the gates open before 8.30/9am - including the paid parking, they would not accept our $15 for parking before 8.30/9am.. We drove around for a good 30 mins and everywhere that parking was provided we were told that they won't let us in until 8.30/9am and that parking was for the general public. If we had horses we could have pretty much taken our pick were to park but what the hell is wrong with providing parking earlier for dog exhibitors? We have had stuff knocked off at normal dog shows and didn't like our chances at the Royal by leaving everything unattended. One of us would have had to stay with the dogs and the other with the car until the gates opened - 2 hrs later if parking could not be found (we tried). Even the home owners were not out the front offering parking at that time in the morning, they know they can sleep in because they can charge what ever they want and people will pay to park in their yards when they are ready. If dog exhibitors want to have better access to parking nice and early like the horse exhibitors the only what that would happen is if there were NO DOG ENTRIES for 2012. I will never bother with a Royal again if they refuse to provide early parking. Good luck to all those who are entered - the hardest part all day will be parking. Edited September 23, 2011 by Andisa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capanash Posted September 23, 2011 Share Posted September 23, 2011 We usually park at the primary school across the road... that way the money goes to them not the Royal of Racecourse.... but i think last year they were on't just opening when we go there and that wasn't COD (crack of dawn). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capanash Posted September 23, 2011 Share Posted September 23, 2011 Forgot to add... that really sucks! I think the Melb is one of the worse around... i've been to Sydney which is really good for exhibitors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andisa Posted September 23, 2011 Author Share Posted September 23, 2011 We usually park at the primary school across the road... that way the money goes to them not the Royal of Racecourse.... but i think last year they were on't just opening when we go there and that wasn't COD (crack of dawn). The school was one of the places that knocked us back - the man there said the parking was for the general public only - not exhibitors and was not letting anyone in before 8.30/9am. While we drove around we saw several others being turned away too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andisa Posted September 23, 2011 Author Share Posted September 23, 2011 Forgot to add... that really sucks! I think the Melb is one of the worse around... i've been to Sydney which is really good for exhibitors. Makes you question if they want dogs at the show then - the only way things will improve is if they never receive another dog entry until they provide early parking. If exhibitors don't stick together on this it will never change. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragonwoman Posted September 23, 2011 Share Posted September 23, 2011 Well this was supposed to be my first Royal Melbourne Show and I was really looking forward to it, so was Tracy. The clock was set for 4.30am (earlier for Tracy), everything ready and waiting for pickup and off we go all excited about our big day. We arrived at the gates nice and early by 6am and were back home again by 7.30am... We could have done what others were doing - park in the drop off/pick up area. Unload dogs and equipment and move the car SOME WHERE and move it again later - and risk parking fines or towing. We started to unpack, found our benches but since we had no where to leave the car we decided "stuff it". Entries are not cheap - $30 entry fee per dog - is it too much to ask for to have the gates open before 8.30/9am - including the paid parking, they would not accept our $15 for parking before 8.30/9am.. We drove around for a good 30 mins and everywhere that parking was provided we were told that they won't let us in until 8.30/9am and that parking was for the general public. If we had horses we could have pretty much taken our pick were to park but what the hell is wrong with providing parking earlier for dog exhibitors? We have had stuff knocked off at normal dog shows and didn't like our chances at the Royal by leaving everything unattended. One of us would have had to stay with the dogs and the other with the car until the gates opened - 2 hrs later if parking could not be found (we tried). Even the home owners were not out the front offering parking at that time in the morning, they know they can sleep in because they can charge what ever they want and people will pay to park in their yards when they are ready. If dog exhibitors want to have better access to parking nice and early like the horse exhibitors the only what that would happen is if there were NO DOG ENTRIES for 2012. I will never bother with a Royal again if they refuse to provide early parking. Good luck to all those who are entered - the hardest part all day will be parking. Trains aren't any better. I will be driving in later in the week but on Monday will be getting train to help friends and watch my breed judged. First train arrives at Showgrounds at 9.03, gates are advertised to open 9.30. Then I have to traipse across to the dog area Doesn't give much time if the breed starts at 10.00 I am awaiting a reply from Royal as to whether station staff will let me in before 9.30!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evolving Posted September 23, 2011 Share Posted September 23, 2011 Isn't the entrance for Flemington racecourse at Epsom road suppose to be open from 7 in the morning? $15 a day to park there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oakway Posted September 23, 2011 Share Posted September 23, 2011 I used to park at Flemington racecourse and walk back in through the horse area. Has this option now gone ?. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andisa Posted September 23, 2011 Author Share Posted September 23, 2011 Isn't the entrance for Flemington racecourse at Epsom road suppose to be open from 7 in the morning? $15 a day to park there. I used to park at Flemington racecourse and walk back in through the horse area. Has this option now gone ?. All gates were closed when we were there - the only access was gate 7 for drop off/pick up. Lets hope they get it right tomorrow because it sure stuffed up our day today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stolzseinrotts Posted September 23, 2011 Share Posted September 23, 2011 Oh that sucks big time! Sorry to hear that you are both back home again early! Glad I checked here as I was going to call in about an hour and see how it went with the pugs. One of the many reason I never do a Melbourne Royal, parking is near impossible and such a long day! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andisa Posted September 23, 2011 Author Share Posted September 23, 2011 Oh that sucks big time! Sorry to hear that you are both back home again early! Glad I checked here as I was going to call in about an hour and see how it went with the pugs. One of the many reason I never do a Melbourne Royal, parking is near impossible and such a long day! Stolz - you can imagine the conversation in the car back home ;) lets just say it has inspired us to write a complaint to let them know just what we think of the situation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rysup Posted September 23, 2011 Share Posted September 23, 2011 Wow I would be absolutely fuming! I'd probably just have parked in the drop off area and left a big note on the windscreen saying "No where else to park, will move it when the parking opens" or something like that. What a bad joke! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oakway Posted September 23, 2011 Share Posted September 23, 2011 Where was every body else going to park their car and/or trailer . There must have been some place. ??????. Was a diagram of where to park missed out of your envelope maybe?. Write a letter of complaint, I would. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverHaze Posted September 23, 2011 Share Posted September 23, 2011 Very odd. We always just go straight in off of flemington road to the racetrack car park. Usually around 7.30am ish... Perhaps this is something that needs to be reported to Estelle ASAP. She will be able to advise on what parking will be open. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andisa Posted September 23, 2011 Author Share Posted September 23, 2011 Wow I would be absolutely fuming! I'd probably just have parked in the drop off area and left a big note on the windscreen saying "No where else to park, will move it when the parking opens" or something like that. What a bad joke! Well if you leave the car in the wrong spot you can expect a big fine or find the car gone - we were told they will be towed if left in the wrong place. Who expects parking problems at 6am? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
troop Posted September 24, 2011 Share Posted September 24, 2011 (edited) ummmmmmm park in the racecoarse they have a gate that let dog exibitiors in and then you walk up Edited September 24, 2011 by troop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InspectorRex Posted September 24, 2011 Share Posted September 24, 2011 Andisa, this is just disgusting!!!!!!!!!!!!! They obviously DON'T want dogs at the Royal. I have heard that from a relative horse judge who told me that they will move the Dog judging to say KCC Park just as they have moved the most of the Horse events to Werribee. I would definitely be writing a letter of complaint and requesting a refund of monies. This is one of the many reasons that I WON'T enter the Melbourne Royal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andisa Posted September 24, 2011 Author Share Posted September 24, 2011 ummmmmmm park in the racecoarse they have a gate for the dog exibitiors and then you walk up and that's exactly what we planned on doing - but the gates were closed. Perhaps we could have waited outside the gates but by this stage we had already tried everywhere that we were told to and could not be bothered with getting stuffed around any longer. I don't see why the horse exhibitors have lots of easy access while the dog exhibitors get nothing - you have 5 mins to unload and your car is at risk until the gates are opened hours later. What is wrong with opening the gates early for exhibitors so they can get set up easily and out of the way for the next person. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
troop Posted September 24, 2011 Share Posted September 24, 2011 i think its all a bit dramatic isnt it the people i have spoken to havnt had a problem. .its the royal im sure if you really wanted to have shown you would have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kezziahgsd Posted September 24, 2011 Share Posted September 24, 2011 Flemington Racecourse is open for all exhibitors, early!! Guess you didn't go to the right gate. Its a 10 minute walk up at the very most back to the dog pavillion!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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