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Status quo for Victorian Spring Carnival

The proposal for a revamped Victorian Spring Carnival has been rejected.

The Racing Victoria board met on Friday and voted to keep the current schedule, including the Cox Plate and Caulfield Cup Carnivals on their traditional dates in October.

The proposal, heavily backed by the Melbourne Racing Club, would have seen 12 Saturdays of consecutive Group One racing and the Gr.1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) pushed back to the final Saturday in November.

But others, notably the Australian Trainers Association, indicated they were against any such move.

RV Chairman Brian Kruger said on Friday afternoon that the Carnival would retain its traditional dates and would kick off with the Gr.1 New Zealand Bloodstock Memsie Stakes (1400m) on August 29.