The Melbourne Cup, run annually since 1861 on the first Tuesday of November, is a horse race that literally stops a nation.
Melbournians enjoy a gazetted holiday, but elaborate Cup parties are held all around the nation to watch the race.
We can’t experience the race itself during the Rotary International Convention, held in Melbourne on May 27-31, 2023, but we can offer the next best thing.
Imagine being at Flemington Racecourse – one of the most picturesque in the world – in one of their fabulous stands, for a gourmet dinner featuring outstanding Victorian food and wines. Imagine reliving past Cups, being photographed with an actual Melbourne Cup trophy, even meeting past winning horses, who really do thrive on meeting people.
Like many of the 130,000 people attending the Cup annually, you will enjoy an exclusive complimentary Rotary express train to Flemington departing and returning to Southern Cross Station, a short walk from Melbourne Convention Centre and most Convention hotels. At Flemington, the station is right outside your venue.
The fellowship on the train will itself be worth the admission price, especially on the return journey!
The Melbourne Cup, the richest ‘two-mile’ handicap in the world, is a demanding 3,200-metre race limited to 24 starters over three years old. It says something that the only horse to win three times (in successive years) was the mare Makybe Diva. Michelle Payne, the only female jockey to win the Cup, had her story told in the film Ride Like a Girl.
The Cup has spawned numerous stories and other films, including a film about Phar Lap, winner in 1930, and immortalised (at least in the Australian psyche) as the greatest racehorse of all time. Certainly, Phar Lap is up there with the best, and his mysterious death in California in 1932 after winning the then-richest race in the world ensures the legend lives on. Popularly known as ‘Big Red’, Phar Lap was a crowd favourite during the Great Depression, winning 32 of his 35 races between 1930 and 1932.
In 2022, total prize money will be AU$8 million, of which $4.4 million is first prize. The iconic cup presented since 1914 is hand spun from 1.65kg of 18-carat gold and worth over AU$250,000!
Melbourne Cup race day is much more than the race, and famous for its food and fashion – of all kinds. Attendees at our event are encouraged (but certainly not compelled) to wear their best clothes, and ladies are encouraged to wear a fascinator or stylish hat.
You will be welcomed by the chairman of the Victoria Racing Club and there will be fashion prizes, phantom race calls, entertaining speakers and entertainment to ensure a brilliant and memorable night out.
If you follow the sport of kings, you can’t miss this event. Regardless, this event will be a highlight of your Melbourne Convention experience.