Melbourne Cup Tour 2024 to visit 39 destinations in Australia and overseas
Australian racing’s most prized trophy will visit a basketball legend’s country pub and a major US city on its 2024 tour. Find out if the Cup is coming to your town.
Victoria
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Start spreading the news – the Melbourne Cup Tour is heading to New York.
The city is one of eight international destinations on the 2024 itinerary, alongside Tokyo, London and Chichester in the UK, Dublin and Galway in Ireland, and New Zealand’s Auckland and Cambridge.
The 18-carat gold cup – recently valued at $750,000 – will also visit seven Australian states and territories as part of a 39-stop trip from May 31 to Melbourne Cup Day on November 5.
Victoria’s nine destinations include Trentham – thanks to Olympic basketballer Chris Anstey.
The triple NBL champ and former Boomers and NBA player successfully applied to have the biggest prize in Australian racing visit the picturesque town, northwest from Melbourne, where he recently reopened the revamped Hotel Trentham.
“We bough the pub last July, after spending a few months here getting to know the locals. It had shut down during Covid,” Anstey said.
“It sits in the middle of a historic street, and the street had lost its heartbeat a bit, so we wanted to give it its heart back. It’s a pub for the locals, nothing too fancy.
“(We also wanted to) bring some unique events and experiences to the town. Being a fan of racing and having owned racehorses historically, we wanted the opportunity (to bring the tour here).
“I spent as much time (on the application) as I’ve spent on anything since high school. We can’t wait to put together the sort of visit the town deserves.”
The plan includes a classic “country parade” down the main street and to bring the Cup to the pub, which is always broadcasting some sort of sport.
“We have plenty of screens to show the races, so I’m sure it will become a hot spot during the Spring Carnival,” Anstey said.
Trentham is one of 24 Australian towns that have also been selected for a “national sweep” that gives them the chance to win $50,000 to contribute to charity.
The tour has trekked more than a million kilometres to 640 destinations since its inception in 2003.
2024 LEXUS MELBOURNE CUP TOUR
Friday 31 May – Tuesday 4 June: Tokyo (Japan)
Thursday 6 June – Saturday 8 June: New York (USA)
Friday 28 June: Cowes (VIC)*
Sunday 30 June – Monday 1 July: Cambridge (NZ)
Wednesday 3 July: Auckland (NZ)
Monday 8 July: Boorowa (NSW)*
Tuesday 9 July: Cootamundra (NSW)* and Harden-Murrumburrah (NSW)*
Wednesday 10 July: Barellan (NSW)*
Monday 15 July: Darwin (NT)
Tuesday 16 July – Wednesday 18 July: Tennant Creek (NT)*
Friday 19 July – Saturday 20 July: Katherine (NT)*
Tuesday 23 July: Rowella (TAS)*
Wednesday 24 July: Hobart (TAS)
Friday 26 July – Monday 29 July: London (UK)
Tuesday 30 July – Thursday 1 August: Chichester (Goodwood Festival) (UK)
Friday 2 August – Saturday 3 August: Galway (Summer Festival) (Ireland)
Monday 5 August -Tuesday 6 August: Dublin (Ireland)
Wednesday 14 August: Wyalkatchem (WA)*
Thursday 15 August: Perth (WA)
Saturday 17 August: Esperance (WA)*
Tuesday 20 August: Cassowary Coast (QLD)*
Thursday 22 August: Gregory (QLD)*
Saturday 24 August: Taree (NSW)*
Wednesday 28 August: Alpine Shire (VIC)*
Friday 30 August: Mt Wycheproof (VIC)*
Sunday 1 September – Friday 5 September: Sydney (NSW)
Sunday 8 September: Emerald (QLD)*
Friday 13 September: Brisbane (QLD)
Tuesday 17 September: Port Lincoln (SA)*
Thursday 19 September – Friday 20 September: Murray Bridge (SA)*
Saturday 21 September: Adelaide (SA)
Sunday 22 September: Clare (SA)*
Friday 4 October: Rochester (VIC)*
Saturday 5 October: Nathalia (VIC)*
Wednesday 9 October: Woodside (VIC)*
Wednesday 16 October: Trentham (VIC)*
Thursday 17 October: Lancefield (VIC)*
Friday 18 October – Monday 4 November: Melbourne (VIC)
Tuesday 5 November Melbourne Cup Day
*Part of the National Sweep
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