Stable Upbringing

Melbourne Cup Fans Shout Themselves Horse

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

There is no bigger day in Melbourne than today. You see, the Melbourne Cup is held on the first Tuesday of November and believe me, they aren’t kidding when they say it’s the race that stops a nation. It is a 3200-metre race at Flemington Racecourse, and it is the focus of the whole country.

Whether you are at Flemington or not, whether you are in the corporate marquees or not, whether you are at the Birdcage or not, today is Melbourne’s biggest party.

In 1993, on a wet track, Michael Kinane rode Vintage Crop to victory, a historic moment for the Irish horse because it was the first time in history that the Cup had been won by a European horse.

Yesterday was a slow day, because most people take the day off to convert the Saturday-Sunday-Tuesday segment into a really long weekend, Schools are generally closed on the Monday before Cup Day, and it is the perfect opportunity to study the form guide.

Everyone has an opinion on the prospective winner of the Cup. Me? Er, I wouldn’t know the difference between a thoroughbred and a rocking horse.

So where did I take these photographs? At Flemington, during trackwork? Nope, I shot them on Friday evening, on Flinders Street. The horses in the first frame are just a close-up. Here, below, is the true view of the whole scene.

As you can see, it’s a huge hoarding at Federation Square in central Melbourne. The size of the two passers-by gives you an idea of just how all-encompassing the billboard really is.


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Raindrops On Roses

They Compensate For Dry Hoses

Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON

The weather forecaster got it right and we've had a wet start to the weekend - but no one's complaining. As I've mentioned before, we're in the grip of drought and we have severe water restrictions, so the rain has really been a big relief. This shot was taken in my garden and the rose in the photograph is called Chicago Peace. They are huge roses, very highly scented and last for days in vases.

For most Victorians, this is going to be a four-day weekend, with schools closed on Monday and the Melbourne Cup public holiday the next day. The Melbourne Cup, for those of you who are not familiar with horse racing, is a 3200m race that literally brings the entire country to a standstill. It is held on the first Tuesday of November and so far it looks like the weather will be fine on the big day.

The trophy is an 18-karat gold, three-handled cup that is one of the most coveted trophies in the world. The first time a foreign horse won the Cup was the Irish-owned Vintage Crop in 1993 and this achievement in turn brought a new dimension to the race. Last year, the Japanese-owned Delta Blues became the first Asian horse to take the trophy.

But for me, the most stirring moment in Melbourne Cup history came after the decision by jockey Damien Oliver to ride in the 2002 Cup, immediately after the sudden death of his brother Jason, also a jockey, who succumbed to injuries sustained in a race fall. But Damien Oliver saddled up bravely for the Cup, wearing his brother's breeches - and rode Media Puzzle to victory.

In a spine-tingling moment, he saluted the heavens in a heartfelt tribute to his brother. Then, with tears streaming down his face, he said, ``The Melbourne Cup doesn't mean anything to me any more. I'd give it away right now to have my brother back.'' As a sportswriter, I've seen many emotional moments on the international stage, but none to quite compare with that afternoon at Flemington Racecourse.