By Andrew Paloczi
THE Melbourne Cup visited Stony Creek Racecourse on Sunday before making its way to Meeniyan Town Hall, where enthusiastic community members enjoyed being photographed with the famous trophy.
They heard about its interesting history and that of the race that stops the nation, Victorian Racing Club consultant historian Andrew Lemon on hand to outline a little of the Melbourne Cup story and answer people’s questions.
The event was part of the Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour, and while Andrew has travelled widely on such tours in past years, the journey from Stony Creek Racecourse to Meeniyan is the first time he can remember the prestigious trophy travelling by tractor.
With the current price of gold, the solid gold Cup is valued at $850,000.
Interestingly, the Melbourne Cup was known by that name from the outset, inspired by an English handicap race called the Chester Cup, but there was no cup presented to the winner.
Andrew dashed the story that a gold watch was awarded when Archer won the first Melbourne Cup race in 1861, along with the tall tale that the horse walked from NSW for the race, the
eventual two-time winner actually travelling by ship.
While various trophies were eventually awarded to the Melbourne Cup winner, it wasn’t until 1919 that the current style of Cup was first presented.
Andrew fondly recalled for the audience his first memories of the big race in 1969 when Rain Lover secured back-to-back Melbourne Cup victories, saying “I fell for the magic of the Cup that day.”
Stony Creek Racing Club president Jason Benbow relished his time on stage chatting with Andrew and learning more about the trophy and the race, the Melbourne Cup having been a driving force in his career as a jockey.
Jason recalled the heartbreak of his near misses when he appeared set for a start in the nation’s most prestigious race only for a trainer’s decision or a mishap to intervene.
While he never quite got a start, he is still swept up in the magic of the event, believing the first running of the race he saw was in 1996, the winner that year the Bart Cummings-trained Saintly.
Stony Creek Racing Club committee members were delighted to host the Melbourne Cup visit and share it with the community, attendees savouring CWA scones and a cuppa as they chatted about their memorable day.
