Melbourne Cup celebrations: Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate goes off after backing winner

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate celebrated like he owned Melbourne Cup winner Vow and Declare after backing the winner and ‘doing very well’ this afternoon. SEE VIDEO OF HIS CELEBRATION

GOLD Coast Mayor Tom Tate celebrated like he owned Melbourne Cup winner Vow and Declare after backing the winner in the race that stops a nation at the Turf Club this afternoon.

Cr Tate pumped his fists wildly and was grinning from ear to ear as the Australian born-and-bred horse trained by Danny O’Brien became the first local runner to win in four years.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate starts to get excited as Australian born-and-bred horse Vow and Declare closes in on the Melbourne Cup. Picture: Instagram/David Crisafulli

Cr Tate had tipped the horse to win in the Bulletin this morning, saying it did well in the Caulfield Cup to seize a minor place from well back and would be “hard to beat” today.

Broadwater MP David Crisafulli posted footage of an excited Cr Tate to Instagram saying: “I know stuff all about horse racing a Mayor just won the #melbournecup.”

Cr Tate is a winner. Picture: Instagram/David Crisafulli

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Cr Tate was cheering the horse inside the Gold Coast Turf Club VIP area alongside his wife Ruth and Deputy Mayor Donna Gates.

He wouldn’t reveal how much he had spent or won but told the Bulletin: “I did very well”.

“I tipped it in the Bulletin and I was on the nose.”

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate wouldn’t say how much he put on Vow and Declare but said he “did very well”. Picture: Instagram/David Crisafulli

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Cr Tate was among thousands across the city to hit the turf club or the dozens of restaurants and bars putting on special Melbourne Cup day functions.

White Rhino Bar & Eats in Surfers Paradise was packed with a full, well-dressed crowd whilst Hideaway has 200 patrons at a $130-a-head four-hour package function.

White Rhino Bar & Eats partner Matt Keegan with Tee Morrison at White Rhino in Surfers Paradise for Melbourne Cup celebrations.

IN PICTURES: FASHIONS ON THE FIELD AT GOLD COAST TURF CLUB

At the Turf Club friends Kalamunda Thompson, Liz Farrance, Shanae Dumbrell and Dekota Thompson were screaming for most of the main race.

“This is our second or third year. I love it. I had a little punt but probably only won 10 bucks,” Ms Farrance said.

Racegoers Liz Farrance, Shanae Dumbrell, Kalani Thompson and Dekota Thompson at The Gold Coast Turf Club. Photograph: Jason O’Brien.

A man was also seen screaming “I’ve won” seconds before Vow and Declare crossed the line.

When the Bulletin asked how much of a bet he placed, he copied Cr Tate and kept it to himself: “Only a little bit. I don’t want to say.”