Taking the Emirates Melbourne Cup to the People

The Victoria Racing Club (VRC) has announced the 34-destinations chosen to host the 2014 Emirates Melbourne Cup Tour (EMCT). From Murwillumbah to Bendigo, Auckland to Darwin the Emirates Melbourne Cup will embark on its annual Tour across Australia and New Zealand for locals to experience first-hand the magic and history of the Cup ahead of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, Craig Ondarchie, was joined by local Aitken College students and thoroughbred racing royalty Might and Power, Doriemus, Brew, Efficient and Rogan Josh to welcome the 2014 Emirates Melbourne Cup trophy at Living Legends in Greenvale.

The $175,000, 18-carat gold Emirates Melbourne Cup will commence its three and a half month Tour in July accompanied by Melbourne Cup veterans and racing legends who will share their personal stories with locals throughout the Tour.

VRC Treasurer Mr John O'Rourke said the VRC encourages Australian and New Zealand communities to share in the historic and heart-warming stories the Tour is sure to bring in the race's 154th year and embrace the unique opportunity to get up close and personal with the trophy.

“The Tour destinations are selected through a tender process and the Victoria Racing Club both congratulates and welcomes this year's successful applicants to join us in taking the Cup to the people.

“The Emirates Melbourne Cup truly is an Australian icon and each year it is a pleasure to see how much the trophy uplifts community spirit and reignites the love for the 'race that stops a nation'™.”

The Tour will begin in York, Western Australia, where the first race will take place on the York Race Track since it was demolished in a storm in 2011. The Cup will also visit the iconic Birdsville Races, known to locals as the 'Melbourne Cup of the outback', where races have been run since 1882.

The 2014 Emirates Melbourne Cup will return to Melbourne on Monday 27 October, kicking off
the festivities leading into the Melbourne Cup Carnival before the
running of the 154th Emirates Melbourne Cup on Tuesday 4 November 2014.

EMCT Destinations:

Western Australia – York, Perth
Northern Territory – Darwin
New South Wales – Sydney, Murwillumbah/Tweed, Lismore, Ballina, Wagga Wagga,
Cootamundra, Grenfell, Deniliquin
Queensland – Brisbane, Charleville, Birdsville, Charters Towers, Home Hill, Gold Coast and
Noosa
Australian Capital Territory – Canberra
Victoria – Melbourne, Wodonga, Bendigo, Stawell, Lorne, Geelong
South Australia – Adelaide
Tasmania – Hobart, Sorell
New Zealand – Wellington, Featherston, Whakatane, Auckland, New Plymouth, Wanganui

Website: melbournecup.com