Race two is won in front of empty grandstands. Picture: Getty

Melbourne Cup 2020: Empty Flemington

Staff writer

1 min read·November 03, 2020 - 12:34PM

Herald Sun

A beautiful Melbourne Cup day would pull in 100,000 race fans to Flemington. This year the grand racing venue lies empty. These are the eerie scenes in a year like no other.

Flemington lies empty on Tuesday as Melbourne slowly emerges from COVID-19 lockdown.

Last year the Birdcage was full of famous faces dressed in their finest.

The grandstands were packed with punters ready for the race that stops a nation.

On a fine spring day today, with the mercury expected to hover around 30C, Flemington is looking a treat.

Just eerily empty.

We take you inside the racing headquarters and scenes nobody would have dreamt possible just a year ago.

Thousands of race fans would usually be making this journey towards the track. On Tuesday, it’s (almost) empty. Picture: Jay Town

Some of the best seats in the house. Empty. Picture: Alex Coppel

Where is everyone? Picture: Alex Coppel

There will be no crowd trouble for police. Picture: Alex Coppel

Declan Bates on No Restriction wins race two in front of empty stands. Picture: Getty

Flemington has come up a treat on Tuesday. Picture: Getty

Melbourne was released from lockdown restrictions just a week ago, with crowd bans still in place. Picture: Getty

One of the few people allowed inside the Flemington bubble. Picture: Getty

More than 80,000 people packed Flemington last year. Picture: Getty

This year it’s just key workers. Picture: Getty

The biggest crowd was 122,736 in 2003. Picture: Getty

The first time the 100,000 mark was reached was back in 1926. Picture: Getty

The new members’ grandstand opened just two years ago. Today, it lies empty. Picture: Getty

Picture: Jay Town

A deserted Saintly Place beneath the Hill Stand. Picture: Jay Town

Bart Cummings’ statue looks over an empty course. Picture: Jay Town

Picture: Getty Images

Picture: Alex Coppel