7 hours ago
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Dating science will be put to the ultimate test at a one-of-a-kind race day in Sydney on Saturday.
That is because the $10million Golden Eagle on November 1 is doubling as Australia's biggest singles event.
Thousands of punters will be hoping to find love while backing a winner at the race playfully dubbed 'the Golden Mingle' - and organisers say they have the science to prove it.
An international study of 6500 couples across 50 countries led by the University of Wroclaw in Poland, with help from Canberra's ANU, recently found those who met partners in person reported greater relationship satisfaction, intimacy and connection than those who simply met online.
And Harvard researchers concluded in a study on human happiness that good relationships (the kind we build in person) are the clearest predictor of long-term health and happiness.
Golden Eagle organisers say the message is simple: ditch the apps and get ready to mingle.
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Time to swap the glitchy algorithms at Royal Randwick for old school meet and greet
'A wave of new research is backing what your heart (and maybe your mum) has whispered all along. Meeting face-to-face sparks chemistry, satisfaction, and even health benefits than scrolling and trolling on dating,' a Racing NSW spokesperson said.
Thanks to an innovative badge system, racegoers will easily know who is single, taken, or in a 'complicated' situation.
Upon entry at Randwick, fans can grab a specially designed badge to let others know their romantic status.
A green badge means you're single and open to meeting new people, while a red one means you're in a relationship and are 'just here to be a wingman or wingwoman' for your mates.
And a yellow badge means it's complicated.
Singles will have access to exclusive zones in the Winx Stand, giving them the perfect, high-end setting to mix and mingle.
The state-of-the-art stand is open to all general admission racegoers with perfect views of the famous Royal Randwick straight at the 200m mark.
There will also be a TikTok competition called the Golden Pick-Up Line, which gives racegoers the chance to record and post their best attempt at starting a flirty conversation.
The best entry will win $10,000, they just need to tag @RacingNSW and use #thegoldenmingle and #goldenpickupline hashtags.
It is the first time Royal Randwick has hosted the $10million Golden Eagle, just weeks after a 50,000-sellout crowd for the $20million The Everest race day.
The Golden Eagle was run at Rosehill between 2019 and 2024 before it was moved to Randwick due to stronger customer demand.
The Golden Eagle is run over 1500 metres under set weights for four-year-olds only, and 10 per cent of each horse's prizemoney is donated to a charity of choice.
It won't only be about punting at Golden Eagle Day at Randwick. Racegoers (pictured at Randwick) have an even better chance to find some romance under a new initiative
This will be the first year the Golden Eagle is run at Royal Randwick
British DJ Nathan Dawe will perform in the Theatre of the Horse after the last race
There will be a 'Celebration Hour' where punters can enjoy an Asahi Super Dry for $9 from 12pm to 1pm.
This year, racegoers are invited to add 'a gold accent' to their attire, while British DJ Nathan Dawe will entertain the crowd with a performance after the last race.
He is best known for his 2020 single Lighter, featuring KSI, which reached number three on the UK singles charts.
