After two years without crowds, the $120 million Victorian Spring Racing Carnival is back on track as Melbourne’s Flemington Racecourse prepares to host the race that stops a nation.
As horses, connections, owners and fans get ready for the 162nd running of the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday, there is plenty to celebrate, with Group 1 races (the Derby on Saturday), 29 country cups, the reopening of the closure the famous Birdcage Enclosure and the famous CBD parade.
The public event will mark the final stop on the Melbourne Cup tour across Australia, New Zealand and Singapore and will feature our much-loved race champions (Brew, Efficient, Almandin and Twilight Payment) as well as the connections of 24 runners. on Tuesday.
The Birdcage, this year themed ‘Paradiso’, will be back in full swing with international celebrities, world-class fashion and food, a stunning styled landscape of bars, terraces and retail spaces and a central meeting place called the Bird Bath. Bar.
VRC chief executive Steve Rosich said the club was delighted to have The Birdcage, home of major sponsors and host broadcaster Ten Network, make its return to Flemington with a new look.
“The Birdcage has long embodied the glamor and elegance of the Melbourne Cup carnival and we are thrilled to welcome back our most distinctive racers to the area to celebrate the fashion, food and fabulous racing that has set Flemington apart on the world stage, Mr. Rosich said.
The official party kicked off on October 24, with host Eddie McGuire (Who wants to be a millionaire) doing the trackside honors as only he knows how.
Described as a “major event specialist”, the veteran broadcaster introduced his co-host, international racing icon Francesca Cumani, saying it is more exciting this year for him than the way she previously commented during the pandemic – on 3am (UK time) from her. stables at home.
Jockey Glen Boss, who retired from racing earlier this year, will add horsepower to the air.
Meanwhile, Melbourne Cup-winning jockey and trainer Michelle Payne (who won on the Prince of Penzance in 2015), Group 1-winning jockey James Winks and renowned form expert David Gately will join the commentary team for the week-long carnival.
Covering all things fashion and entertainment in the Birdcage is actor and singer Rob Mills, with project’s Georgie Tunny, with a team covering the color of the street.
What about entertainment?
No surprise on par with how we were collectively booed ahead of the AFL Grand Final.
Ariarne Titmus will walk the Cup trophy into the breeding yard before legendary Scottish-Australian musician Colin Hay, frontman of Men at Work, performs a special rendition of Down under live in the assembly yard.
Singer and swimmer Cody Simpson will perform the national anthem.
Australian indie pop powerhouse Sheppard, whose second single, Geronimo spent three weeks at No. 1 on the ARIA Singles Chart and was certified five times platinum, will end in general acceptance for the post-Cup celebrations.
VRC chairman Neil Wilson says the race is watched by more than 750 million people.
Big business for the Victorian economy
The Melbourne Cup Carnival is one of Victoria’s largest sporting and cultural events, attracting up to 300,000 racers to Flemington Racecourse and generating more than $430 million for the Victorian economy each year.
According to the Australian Retailers Association, consumer spending on Carnival will reach a staggering $1.6 billion this year as people invest in fashion, accessories and attend trackside and hospitality events.
Roy Morgan’s research found that track-goers will spend an average of $1,076 on themselves, and at least 1.5 million people will attend a track event.
A new dress or costume is the most common consumer purchase (cited by 68 percent of people planning to attend a spring racing carnival event), followed by a hat/fascinator (35 percent), a pair of shoes (31 percent) and jewelry (26 percent).
ARA CEO Paul Zahra said racers were returning to the track in “great numbers and hospitality businesses are also set for a roaring trade on Tuesday”.
And if renting, as opposed to buying, a fabulous outfit this year is a more budget-conscious decision given rising inflation, designer clothing platform The Volte says bookings “have gone bananas” ahead of the day. the race.
You can rent a dress for as little as $160 and shoes for less.
Co-founder Bernadette Olivier shares The new daily: “Sales are up 400 percent and new clothing listings are up 600 percent,” Ms. Olivier said, adding that more women than ever want to wear a designer dress without having to pay the cost of buying it. clouds.
“There has been a real change in consumer behavior,” she said.
Umbrellas and a warm coat may be sage options, as the bureau has forecast a low of six degrees on Tuesday, reaching a high of around 14 degrees.
“With clouds. Very high possibilities for showers. Chance of storms.”
Melbourne Cup Day (Tuesday), Kennedy Oaks Day (Thursday) and VRC Champions Stakes Day (Saturday) are live and free on Channel 10 and 10 Play
