Just noticed an interesting thing.
Owners are charged $2,000 to start their horse in the Victoria Cup and pay prizemoney to 5th place. So 7 owners miss out and pay to provide the entertainment which then HRV wants to charge bookies to bet on.....doesn't seem right.
Ok these horses are big earners but obviously they are big payers as well.

Notice Menangle pay to last, at least owners get something towards their costs.

Maybe HRV supply plenty of food and drink for the $2,000