THE MELBOURNE CUP LUNCHEON

Melbourne Cup Day has been observed in Australia since the first race was held at the Flemington Racecourse in Victoria in 1861.

Melbourne Cup Day is one of Australia’s most popular social and racing events. The main racing event takes place at the Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Victoria. More than 100,000 people usually attend Flemington Racecourse. Local races are held throughout the country on this day and when the main race of the day occurs at the Flemington Racecourse it is televised on screens at race tracks across Australia. The race is televised live to an audience of about 650 million people worldwide. Many people stop what they are doing shortly before 3pm on Melbourne Cup Day to watch or listen to the main race either via television, Internet or the radio.

At the races, people dress up – many women wear their best or most colorful hats and dresses, with some participating in fashion parades on the field. Marquees are set up for VIP guests, including local, national and international celebrities who attend this festive event. Champagne, wine and gourmet finger foods are usually served on this day.

Many offices across the Australia stop work closer to the time of the main race to celebrate the event. Activities include office parties that feature hat and dress competitions, staff lunches at restaurants and afternoon teas where a television is available so workers can watch the main race. Bets are made on this day – even those who usually do not bet try their luck with a small wager or entry into a sweep, which is a lottery in which each ticket holder is matched with a randomly drawn horse. There are some Australians who deem horse racing as a cruel sport and have been vocal in their protests over the years.

We celebrated Melbourne Cup Day in our community centre with the staff and residents. We had the traditional fare of finger food in the way of prawns and chicken and bread rolls. This year one of the residents made salads too. People dressed in their best or funniest with interesting hats.

One of the residents makes the hats and rents them out each year for $5 and then she donates the money to an animal shelter.

Annie and Herbie. Annie makes the hats.

We enjoyed the day.

Table settings made by the craft group.

Some dressed up. Our friends Ros and Len.

Traditional fare, prawns, chicken, bread roll and salad. Our CEO paid for the event but we paid $20 which she donated to our favourite charity.

Diane in front, won best lady's hat, Barbie best dressed lady, Len best dressed man, Kevin best gentleman's hat.

We watched the race on a big screen.

The happy winner. The jockey won $220,000. The owners of the horse won $4,400,000.