Darwin 2023 Calcutta to be the biggest to date for Melbourne Cup

More than $50,000 in ticket bookings will make this year’s edition of the Melbourne Cup Darwin Calcutta the biggest to date. Read everything you need to know about the event.

The biggest and best Melbourne Cup Calcutta Darwin has ever seen is on the way, with more than $50,000 in ticket bookings going on sale.

Women in Thoroughbred Racing NT have set high hopes in the event which will be held at the Mindil Beach Casino Resort Sandbar.

Molly Upstill and Sky Racing’s Russel Leonard will host the event.

Women in Thoroughbred Racing NT chairperson Brooke Prince said the 2023 Calcutta would be amazing.

“We’ve already had considerable interest within our immediate network of partners and contacts, and we’ve really spared no expense in location, venue, and planning,” Ms Prince said.

“We wanted to create an event to engage with thoroughbred and racing interest groups, so we approached Mindil Beach Casino Resort, and they were thrilled to partner up and host it for us.”

Women in Thoroughbred Racing chairperson Brooke Prince ahead of the 2023 Calcutta. Picture: Supplied

Mindil Beach Casino Resort marketing manager Karley McCrae said she jumped at the opportunity for her venue to host the Calcutta.

“We wanted to give our members and guests a more authentic, more exciting Melbourne Cup experience,” she said.

“We have the venue, the location, and the reputation for exactly this kind of high-calibre event, and at that time, we’d already engaged our event hosts.”

Russel Leonard has been a Rockhampton-based racing expert for more than 25 years, and as well as helping organise the Calcutta, he will also fly up to be the official caller and auctioneer for the event.

“I’ve hosted many Calcutta’s and called many races across most of Australia,” he said.

“In Darwin and NT’s huge horse racing population and interest groups, I see a big opportunity for a Melbourne Cup Calcutta to be a huge success.

Race caller Russell Leonard will host the 2023 Calcutta. Picture: Supplied

“I recently hosted the Katherine Cup Calcutta, and that event really puts Katherine on the map with a massive following, so a Melbourne Cup Calcutta in Darwin is a recipe for success.”

Tickets are now on sale for the Women in Thoroughbred Racing Calcutta from $10 per ticket, starting at 3pm November 5.

It’s there that the field of horses will be drawn and auctioned, with the hopes to see a prize pool of more than $100,000, 70 per cent of which will go to the first place winner.

For full details on the Calcutta event, visit Women in Thoroughbred Racing NT, or Mindil Beach Casino Resort’s Facebook page.

Originally published as Darwin 2023 Calcutta to be the biggest to date for Melbourne Cup