Outrageous things overheard at the Melbourne Cup

Loud and unabashed characters are almost guaranteed at Flemington on the first Tuesday of November.

Every year on the first Tuesday of November tens of thousands of people flock to Flemington Racecourse in pursuit of a good time.

Loud and unabashed characters are almost guaranteed.

This year, after two years of little or no crowds at the Melbourne Cup, racegoers dusted off (or ripped the tag off) their best outfits and headed to the track – leaving their filters at home.

As one man on the train in exclaimed, his suit hadn’t been worn in so long he wouldn’t be surprised if his pants split by the end of the day.

Melbourne Cup Day crowds at Flemington Racecourse let loose. Picture: Jay Town/Racing Photos via Getty Images

Scanning the crowd near the racetrack on Tuesday afternoon dished up quite the sight.

A woman donning an “It’s my f***ing birthday,” sash stood metres away from a man wearing a blue tutu and white shirt with his “bucks challenge” scrawled on the back.

The challenge at the top of list read: “Tongue kiss a granny.”

It was ticked off.

According to the list he had also managed to line dance with three strangers and photobomb another three people’s Cup Day photos.

Rain, hail or shine (literally) did not stop the racegoers from getting their shot trackside.

“I’m getting the angles,” one man assured three women shivering in summer dresses.

The Bureau of Meteorology forecast the day to be the coldest Melbourne Cup since 1995, when temperatures hit just 13.6C. But it seems that was optimistic, as the highest temperature was just 13.3C on Tuesday, recorded at 3.14pm.

Racegoers pose at the Melbourne Cup. Picture: AAP Image/Con Chronis

This man had a bucks challenge list scrawled on his shirt. Picture: news.com.au

Just before 3pm crowds had gathered for the pre-race entertainment.

People balanced up to four cans each or a whole wine bottle. Some stuffed their pockets with whatever alcohol their hands couldn’t hold.

An older woman pushed through the relatively young crowd to the front, complaining to her husband: “He was vaping all over me.”

One man brushed off his suit declaring “he can’t handle me” after having jumped on a friend’s back, taking them both to the wet ground.

A group behind screamed for Daryl Braithwaite.

Unfortunately for them, he was not there.

While they didn’t get The Horses, they did get another classic Australian song, with Colin Hay performing Down Under.

It appeared many did not realise they didn’t actually know the words – other than “he just smiled and gave me a Vegemite sandwich” – until they started singing along.

Colin Hay performs Down Under. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Cody Simpson sings Advance Australia Fair. Picture: Jay Town/Racing Photos via Getty Images

You would think most would know the words to what came next, but not everyone could even identify it.

“Is this the Australian anthem?” one woman loudly asked in a thick Australian accent. Her friends were horrified.

When it was time for the horses to finally make their way onto to the track for the big race, one man yelled, “Yeah boi!” and another shouted, “They’re f***ing jacked.”

The crowd was unmistakeably Australian.

As they eagerly watched on to see who would win the 162nd Melbourne Cup, a man turned to his friend, letting him know there was still a second lap.

“Great, plenty of time to drink,” he noted.

Racegoers are hit with rain, hail and shine. Picture: Jason Edwards

Gold Trip took out the 2022 Melbourne Cup in a surprise win and just as quickly as it had gathered, the crowd dispersed.

Women swapped their heels for flats, or those less prepared let their bare feet get muddy.

One woman who opted to leave her stilettos on as she exited the grounds was in visible pain. Her legs looked as though they would give out at any moment.

The wind picked up and one woman with a red nose, holding her poncho tight, summarised simply what many had been feeling all day: “It’s so cold.”

A man planning his way home suggested to his mates: “Maybe we can just get in the paddy wagon.”

Originally published as Outrageous things overheard at the Melbourne Cup