Emirates Melbourne Cup returns to the people

Emirates Melbourne Cup returns to the people

Thirty-three destinations named as part of the 2015 Emirates Melbourne Cup Tour

The Victoria Racing Club (VRC) today announced that Wellington would join four New Zealand destinations in hosting the $175,000, 18-carat gold Emirates Melbourne Cup trophy as part of the thirteenth annual Tour.

The ‘People’s Cup’ will travel to 33 towns and cities across Australia, New Zealand, and for the first time, Malaysia, where it will join a special World War II memorial service.

The 33 destinations were announced at Kensington Primary School, where students participated in a mock barrier draw alongside Australian Racing Hall of Fame inductee Glen Boss (2003-2005 Emirates Melbourne Cup winning jockey), Terry Freeman (Keeper of the Flemington Roses), Brew (2000 Melbourne Cup winner), Arabella Forge (2002 Myer Fashions on the Field winner) and the Victorian State Attorney General and Racing Minister, The Hon Martin Pakula MP.

Boss and Freeman are just two of the faces of the VRC’s current ‘Racing Royalty’ campaign, which brings together some of the heroes of the sport, and many from behind the scenes, to share the stories connected with Flemington’s rich history.

The 2015 Emirates Melbourne Cup Tour will pass through New Zealand and will travel to Auckland, Cambridge, Wellington and Taupo, providing the local community the chance to get up close and personal with the famous trophy.

It will then continue its 118 day journey before returning to Melbourne for the ‘race that stops a nation’™ on the first Tuesdayin November.

The Cup will be joined by a stable of ambassadors who will make special appearances at key destinations throughout the three and a half month Tour.

VRC Chairman, Mr Michael Burn, said the Tour brings communities together in celebration of the coveted trophy and the rich 154-year history of the Melbourne Cup.

“The Tour began in 2003 out of a desire to share the history and magic of the Melbourne Cup with communities around Australia as well as share some of the personal stories behind our great race,” Mr Burn said, “We’re thrilled to take that experience to many new locations and introduce the Cup to people who may never have the chance to visit Flemington.”

Since it began, the Tour has travelled more than 416,000 kilometres, visited more than 300 regional, rural and metropolitan destinations and hundreds of thousands of people have had the chance to hold the treasured trophy.

This year the Emirates Melbourne Cup Tour will also be encouraging communities to upload photos with the Cup to the VRC’s social media platforms for the chance to win a trip for two to Flemington to join over 100,000 race-goers and witness the excitement and thrill of the Emirates Melbourne Cup. Competition entries must be tagged with #PeoplesCup and #EmiratesMelbourneCup to be valid.

melbournecuptour.com.au

ENDS

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