Three New Zealand regions selected to host Melbourne Cup

Three New Zealand regions selected to host 2016 Emirates Melbourne Cup Tour

The 2016 Emirates Melbourne Cup Tour officially broke out of the barriers today with the Victoria Racing Club (VRC) announcing that Auckland, Palmerston North and Hawkes Bay have been selected to host the iconic 18-carat gold trophy in July.

The special announcement was held at Darren Weir’s stables in Ballarat, Australia, the heartland of the 2015 Emirates Melbourne Cup winning trainer.

This year’s Tour will see the $175,000 trophy travel to 34 towns and cities across New Zealand and Australia, before returning to Flemington for the ‘race that stops a nation’™ on the first Tuesday in November.

The successful destinations were selected for their passion for racing, historical links to the Melbourne Cup and dedication to the community.

The Cup will arrive in Auckland on 18 July, before travelling to Palmerston North on 21 July and Hawkes Bay on 23 July.

RACE Incorporated Chief Executive Officer, Alasdair Robertson, said being part of the Tour will be an unforgettable experience that will unite community members as they play host to the famous trophy.

“We are delighted the Cup is coming to Palmerston North because it gives our community a unique opportunity to celebrate our region’s rich racing history.

“Two Melbourne Cup winners, Hi Jinx and Silver Knight, have been trained at our Awapuni venue and hosting the Cup is a great opportunity to tell their stories again,” Mr Robertson said.

Racing royalty joined the launch celebrations, including 2015 Emirates Melbourne Cup winning trainer Darren Weir and strapper Stevie Payne, 2015 Emirates Melbourne Cup winning horse Prince of Penzance and Flemington Ambassador Georgia Connolly.

For the first time the ‘People’s Cup’ has been manufactured using gold mined from West Wyalong in regional NSW, Australia, a destination of this year’s Tour, and the launch welcomed the Cup’s new manufacturer ABC Bullion to the Flemington family.

VRC Chief Executive, Mr Simon Love, said this year the Tour will celebrate a heightened enthusiasm for racing amongst community groups far and wide following Michelle Payne’s triumphant Emirates Melbourne Cup victory in 2015.

“Since the Tour began in 2003, we have delighted in bringing communities together in the shared history and magic of the Emirates Melbourne Cup and Michelle’s victory last year certainly adds another dimension to those narratives,” Mr Love said. Media release Tuesday 7 June 2016

“Hearing the many tales, from triumphs to tears and everything in between, as people recount their own unique experiences of one of the world’s greatest sporting events, is a joy for all involved.”

Since its inaugural year, the Tour has travelled more than 456,000 kilometres and visited more than 333 regional, rural and metropolitan destinations, providing communities with a once-in-a-life opportunity to experience firsthand the magic of the Emirates Melbourne Cup.

Community members are encouraged to upload photos with the Cup to Instagram, using the hashtags #PeoplesCup and #EmiratesMelbourneCup, for the chance to win a trip for two to Flemington for the running of the 2016 Emirates Melbourne Cup.

melbournecuptour.com.au

ENDS

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