NewsBite

From glam to goon: Melbourne Cup Day’s most chaotic scenes ever

Olivia Harris
1 min read·November 05, 2023 - 12:49PM
News Corp Australia Network

Melbourne Cup Day sees ‘drunk and disorderly’ taken to a whole new level as racegoers swap finery for filth. We look at the best - or perhaps worst - moments of the Melbourne Cup Day over the past two decades.

 

A man dressed as Jim Carrey’s character in The Mask takes a power nap. Picture: Norm Oorloff
A man dressed as Jim Carrey’s character in The Mask takes a power nap. Picture: Norm Oorloff

 

Racegoers jump for joy with their champagne after a long day in the sun. Picture: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
Racegoers jump for joy with their champagne after a long day in the sun. Picture: Dan Himbrechts/AAP

 

Peter Hore dancing on Flemington turf during running of 1997 Melbourne Cup race. He was later jailed after facing charges of being drunk in a public place and conduct endangering people. Picture: John Feder
Peter Hore dancing on Flemington turf during running of 1997 Melbourne Cup race. He was later jailed after facing charges of being drunk in a public place and conduct endangering people. Picture: John Feder

 

A racegoer thrills the crowd - and ruins his chinos - as he performs a flip after the last race. Pictures: Scott Barbour, Mark Stewart
A racegoer thrills the crowd - and ruins his chinos - as he performs a flip after the last race. Pictures: Scott Barbour, Mark Stewart

 

Socks proved a step too far for a punter at the end of the day. Picture: Chris Putnam/Future Publishing via Getty Images
Socks proved a step too far for a punter at the end of the day. Picture: Chris Putnam/Future Publishing via Getty Images

 

What else are ties for? Race day shenanigans kick off as a makeshift game of limbo gets the crowd going. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images
What else are ties for? Race day shenanigans kick off as a makeshift game of limbo gets the crowd going. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

 

After a day at the races, some just can’t keep up(right). Picture: Nicole Garmston
After a day at the races, some just can’t keep up(right). Picture: Nicole Garmston

 

Double-parked and loving life at the 2016 Melbourne Cup. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin
Double-parked and loving life at the 2016 Melbourne Cup. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

 

There’s a race on? Women enjoy their picnic as other racegoers get a glimpse of the riders on parade. Picture: Jenny Evans/Getty Images
There’s a race on? Women enjoy their picnic as other racegoers get a glimpse of the riders on parade. Picture: Jenny Evans/Getty Images

 

Chairs: the unexpected race day essential for rain protection. Picture: Alex Coppel
Chairs: the unexpected race day essential for rain protection. Picture: Alex Coppel

 

Nothing to see here. A racegoer takes a nap as security officers do a lap of the grounds. Picture: Supplied
Nothing to see here. A racegoer takes a nap as security officers do a lap of the grounds. Picture: Supplied

 

It’s all a little much for one lady as she takes an emergency nap. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images
It’s all a little much for one lady as she takes an emergency nap. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

 

Racegoers enjoy drunken antics towards the end of the day. Picture: Jake Nowakowski
Racegoers enjoy drunken antics towards the end of the day. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

 

You’re never too old to chase the birds. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images
You’re never too old to chase the birds. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

 

Melbourne’s unreliable weather sparks chaos as racegoers are forced to shelter from the wind and rain. Picture: George Salpigtidis
Melbourne’s unreliable weather sparks chaos as racegoers are forced to shelter from the wind and rain. Picture: George Salpigtidis

 

All the world’s a stage: A racegoer makes the most of a shelter as others take cover from the poor weather. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images
All the world’s a stage: A racegoer makes the most of a shelter as others take cover from the poor weather. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

 

We cannot confirm if this Scotsman adhered to traditional kilt custom as he performed a cartwheel for the crowd. Picture: David Geraghty
We cannot confirm if this Scotsman adhered to traditional kilt custom as he performed a cartwheel for the crowd. Picture: David Geraghty

 

Bottoms up. Picture: Andrew Tauber
Bottoms up. Picture: Andrew Tauber

 

Flash flooding in Southbank made the journey somewhat more treacherous than usual. Picture: Nicki Connolly
Flash flooding in Southbank made the journey somewhat more treacherous than usual. Picture: Nicki Connolly

 

Racegoers try to climb onto an umbrella using crates at the end of the day. Picture: Tracey Nearmy/AAP
Racegoers try to climb onto an umbrella using crates at the end of the day. Picture: Tracey Nearmy/AAP

 

A drunk punter sleeps it off in a convenient location. Picture: David Crosling
A drunk punter sleeps it off in a convenient location. Picture: David Crosling

 

A woman attempts to scale a fence to rejoin her friends. Picture: Jay Town
A woman attempts to scale a fence to rejoin her friends. Picture: Jay Town

 

Two racegoers embrace as they make their way home. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images
Two racegoers embrace as they make their way home. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

 

Love takes many forms, like a ride home on race day. Picture: John Gass/AAP
Love takes many forms, like a ride home on race day. Picture: John Gass/AAP

 

Snacks are a vital part of Cup Day. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images
Snacks are a vital part of Cup Day. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

 

Perhaps they didn’t see the sign. Picture: Jason Edwards
Perhaps they didn’t see the sign. Picture: Jason Edwards

 

Racegoers jump into a pile of garbage at the end of the day. Picture: Tracey Nearmy/AAP
Racegoers jump into a pile of garbage at the end of the day. Picture: Tracey Nearmy/AAP

 

A racegoer’s performance goes unnoticed by crowd members. Picture: Jason Edwards
A racegoer’s performance goes unnoticed by crowd members. Picture: Jason Edwards

 

Racegoers stage their own races after the main event. Picture: Mark Stewart
Racegoers stage their own races after the main event. Picture: Mark Stewart

 

Two racegoers sleep on the lawn during the clean up at Flemington Racecourse. Picture: Nicole Garmston
Two racegoers sleep on the lawn during the clean up at Flemington Racecourse. Picture: Nicole Garmston

 

A racegoer shelters unsuccessfully from a photograph. Picture: Jake Nowakowski
A racegoer shelters unsuccessfully from a photograph. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

 

Punters dance to their own tune at the end of the day. Picture: Chris Putnam/Future Publishing via Getty Images
Punters dance to their own tune at the end of the day. Picture: Chris Putnam/Future Publishing via Getty Images

 

Racegoers fumble in the bushes during Cup Day. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images
Racegoers fumble in the bushes during Cup Day. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

 

A racegoer loses her shoe in the mud as they make their way home. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images
A racegoer loses her shoe in the mud as they make their way home. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

 

Heels off for the walk home as girls depart race day. Picture: Richard Gosling/AAP
Heels off for the walk home as girls depart race day. Picture: Richard Gosling/AAP

 

A racegoer attempts to befriend the seagulls. Picture: Jason Edwards
A racegoer attempts to befriend the seagulls. Picture: Jason Edwards

 

Racegoers are hit with hot sun, hail, rain and even a rainbow after the last race. Picture: Jason Edwards
Racegoers are hit with hot sun, hail, rain and even a rainbow after the last race. Picture: Jason Edwards

 

A couple of punters face a prickly landing after collapsing into a rose bush. Picture: Jason Edwards
A couple of punters face a prickly landing after collapsing into a rose bush. Picture: Jason Edwards

Add your comment to this story

To join the conversation, please Don't have an account? Register

Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout

More related stories

Original URL: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/photos/from-glam-to-goon-melbourne-cup-days-most-chaotic-scenes-ever/news-story/711389ecccf62ce8bfaec10e6da22b38