In 1861, a racing tradition began on a long stretch of grass unceremoniously scythed down for the occasion. The glamorous and prestigious race, The Melbourne Cup, certainly did not start out with such energy as it holds today. With only bookmakers and their wives in attendance, the Victoria Turf Club broke tradition and ran a 2-mile handicap. That two-mile handicap broke the boundaries as a main race and is now the richest 2-mile handicap in the world. In 2006 it was worth $5.1 million!
This race, which has become one of the most famous around the world, is held the first Tuesday in November each year. The Melbourne Cup is a national holiday in Melbourne, while others all over Australia and the world stop whatever they are doing to watch the race. The race itself lasts only about 3 1/2 minutes, but the festivities go on for a month. The celebration not only includes racing, it includes fun, high fashion and partying until wee hours of the morning.
Fashion if of course a must as the race. If you attended the Spring racing carnival you would be amazed at the fads and fashions strutting next to you. There were an estimated 47,960 hats at last years carnival. At the 2007 Flemington Spring Fashion Lunch 850 guests were able to see a runway show of new racing fashions. Hat fashions were out of this world! With many different designs, all of the hats were sharp, edgy and colorful. There were headpieces with feathers and flowers, pillboxes with veiling and feathers, hug hats using huge feathers, straws and flowers, and creative designs that you have to see to believe. There is never a color left out of the spectrum or a frown on someone’s face.
By: Anne Kreke
