Melbourne Cup Parade of sorts to be held at Living Legends farm
The race that stops a nation usually stops traffic with a parade through city streets the day before the Melbourne Cup. This year, 1000 fans will instead salute retired racehorses at a farm near the airport.
Victoria
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A free public celebration featuring champions of Australia’s greatest race will replace next month’s Melbourne Cup Parade.
Three-time Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva and Michelle Payne’s history making mount Prince of Penzance will headline the scaled down ceremony the morning before the race that stops a nation.
Instead of a traffic-stopping CBD party before big crowds, the Herald Sun can reveal a parade of sorts will instead be staged at Living Legends – the farm near Melbourne Airport home to retired racehorses.
With the traditional city parade scratched for a second year straight due to state government Big Build works, the revised ceremony will feature past winners also including Brew, Efficient and Twilight Payment.
Fans will be able to pose with the $75,000 Melbourne Cup trophy, be treated to free food, face painting, pony rides, craft activities and a parade of Living Legends’ stable of pint-sized ponies.
Victoria Racing Club chief executive Kylie Rogers said: “We are excited to host a
free public event so that everyone has an opportunity to celebrate our retired Melbourne Cup champions.’’
The Herald Sun can also reveal new Mr Rogers is determined to return the Parade to its usual route down Swanston St to Federation Square.
In an exclusive interview, Ms Rogers said the parade helped “engage our community’’.
“I do believe that the Parade is important for our community and it’s a great celebration of our race,’’ she said.
“It’s wonderful to have our champion horses parading around.’’
Ms Rogers said it was “pretty special’’ to have a public holiday for a horse race and a parade the day before to celebrate it.
“One in two Australians engage in the Melbourne Cup, it is intrinsically linked to our psyche, our history, our future and we want to celebrate that,’’ she said.
She said the “public parade” at Living Legends was a platform for fans wanting to celebrate the iconic event.
“The decision to not have a parade was before my time,’’ she said.
“But I’m keen to look at how we reinvigorate that and whatever we do, create an opportunity where families and Australians can get up close and personal with a horse.’’
Free Devonshire tea, picnic snacks and drinks will be served at the event, which will be limited to 1000 people.
The public will also be able to feed carrots to Cup placegetter Maluckyday, fan favourite Apache Cat and two-time Australian Cup winner Harlem, among others.
The Melbourne Cup Carnival begins with Victoria Derby Day on November 2.
The Melbourne Cup will be staged on November 5, ahead of Oaks Day on November 7 and Champions Stakes Day on November 9.
Go to vrc.com.au to register for the Living Legends parade.
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