1 October 2010
Television may be the closest that many racing fans ever get to the Emirates Melbourne Cup.
So Waipa District Council staff are hoping for a big crowd when the real thing arrives in Cambridge this Sunday (October 10).
The Melbourne Cup is on tour as part of its 150th year anniversary celebrations, traveling through nine countries over 220 days.
Cambridge, the centre of New Zealand’s hugely successful thorough-bred industry, has been hand-picked by officials at Australia’s Victoria Racing Club as one of few New Zealand stops.
Cambridge has been home to 14 Melbourne Cup winners. Waipa Mayor Alan Livingston said the Cup’s visit in its 150th anniversary year is recognition from the Victoria Racing Club of the extraordinary contribution to the event by the Waipa racing industry.
“There is such a strong history in Waipa around the Melbourne Cup that it really does have a special place in our hearts and in our wider community, ” he said.
“It’s not just those directly involved in the equine industry who get involved in the Cup. Most New Zealanders acknowledge the event in some way so we are very pleased, and very honoured, to have the ‘real’ Cup here in the Waipa district.”
Waipa District Council staff have organised a community welcome for the Cup, with family-friendly celebrations based around the Town Hall in Victoria Street in Cambridge.
Festivities kick off at 11am and will run until around 1pm. Free entertainment for children includes clowns, stilt walkers, games and more. Works from a school art competition depicting the Cup will be on display in the Town Hall, with prizes donated by Cambridge Stud. Fashion followers are being encouraged to don hats fit for a Melbourne Cup day out and join in the fun.
The Melbourne Cup itself, complete with own security guards, will arrive at the Town Hall just after 11 and people will be able have a close look at, and be photographed with the 18-carat gold trophy.
During the day, private functions will be held at Trelawney Stud and at Cambridge Stud to recognise Cambridge’s Melbourne Cup connection.
For more information, please contact:
Jeanette Tyrrell
Ph: 07 872 0097 or 027 293 8679