This year I was one of the many 100's in New Zealand
who, with great excitement, watched the Melbourne Cup on TV.
I've been to the Melbourne Cup three times over the years.
Each time has been different and lots of fun...
To be part of such a huge crowd... All out for a good time...
To make some money and see the fashions.
The Melbourne Cup Carnival is known worldwide as
Australia's greatest sporting event on the calendar.
It's a public holiday in the state of Victoria, possibly the only
place on earth where a horse race is so important it has
been instated as a public holiday.
In excess of 100,000 people crowd into the Flemington Race Course.
It's a great course with the cityscape in the background.
The 1st ever Melbourne cup race was in 1861 by 17 horses
and it's been a regular event since then.
It's a race that stops the nation, every TV set in
the country would be tuned into the race, just about
every Australian has a punt and it would be the topic of
conversation in every pub and sidewalk.
who, with great excitement, watched the Melbourne Cup on TV.
I've been to the Melbourne Cup three times over the years.
Each time has been different and lots of fun...
To be part of such a huge crowd... All out for a good time...
To make some money and see the fashions.
The Melbourne Cup Carnival is known worldwide as
Australia's greatest sporting event on the calendar.
It's a public holiday in the state of Victoria, possibly the only
place on earth where a horse race is so important it has
been instated as a public holiday.
In excess of 100,000 people crowd into the Flemington Race Course.
It's a great course with the cityscape in the background.
The 1st ever Melbourne cup race was in 1861 by 17 horses
and it's been a regular event since then.
It's a race that stops the nation, every TV set in
the country would be tuned into the race, just about
every Australian has a punt and it would be the topic of
conversation in every pub and sidewalk.
The race this year was between two horses, both previous
runners-up. The winner, Fiorente showed great stamina
over the final 250 meters to hold out Red Cadeaux the
runner up to Dunaden in 2011.
Can those horses run... Spread out here as the
winners take the lead...
And the winner is Fiorente... From a field of 24 horses.
Fiorente is a European galloper from the yard of Sir
Michael Stout. This year, no horses from New Zealand
which is unusual, and no New Zealand jockey's.
Ridden by jockey Damien Oliver... A personal triumph after
being suspended over a betting charge last year. and controversially
allowed back into racing in time for this year's Spring Carnival.
Celebrating his 3rd Melbourne Cup win on this amazing horse...
He had wins in 1995 aboard Doriemus and in
2002 aboard Media Puzzle.
Gai Waterhouse, the trainer... One of Australia's top trainers
but her first Melbourne Cup win.
Looking delighted... Holding the 'Cup' aloft.
The Melbourne cup is the world's richest handicap race
and the single richest held on turf. Total prize money is
$6 million AUD, 1st prize is $3,600,000 - no
wonder Gai looks happy.
Only 2 races in the world offer more prize money...
The synthetic track Dubai World Cup $10,000,000 US
and the Japan Cup $6,700,000 which is held on grass.
And then there's the fashions... The hopefuls...
The ridiculous hat but beautiful dress...
This was the winner... Sheer elegance...
And of course... what race day would be complete without
some Dame Edna lookalikes.
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