Although uncertainty remains as to whether crowds will be permitted to attend Cup Day on Saturday, November 20, the club has taken 650 expressions of interest for bookings in readiness should the green light be given to racegoers.

This comprises 150 indoors and 500 outdoors - levels laid down by the Victorian Government's COVID-19 roadmap from Friday, November 5, when it is anticipated that 80 per cent of the state population 16 years and older will be fully vaccinated.

BTC chief executive officer Belinda Glass said there was no way of telling yet whether racegoers, and if so how many, would be allowed on course for the Cup.

"There's a glimmer of hope, but we can't be sure."

She said how the remainder of the spring looked remained in the hands of Racing Victoria and what protocols it would have in place at that point of the carnival.

Glass said the club had mapped out how "open" marquees would look to meet the requirement of an outdoor event.

She indicated one of the issues facing clubs if crowds were permitted was allowing owners to be in attendance.

The Sportsbet Ballarat Cup, 2000m, will again be worth $500,000.

.