Melbourne Cup Carnival 2020: Your guide to key race days, fashion, entertainment and food
There will be no trackside crowds or glamorous A-listers living it up in the Birdcage, but there is still plenty happening for the Melbourne Cup Carnival. Here is everything you need to know about the key Flemington race days.
Melbourne Cup
Don't miss out on the headlines from Melbourne Cup. Followed categories will be added to My News.
It will look a little different this year, but there is still plenty to look forward to when it comes to celebrating the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
There will be no trackside crowds and no A-listers glamming up in the Birdcage, but that won’t stop people enjoying the race that stops the nation and other key race days at Flemington Racecourse.
The 2020 Melbourne Cup Carnival kicks off with Derby Day on Saturday, followed by the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday and Oaks Day on Thursday. The carnival wraps up with Stakes Day on Saturday, November 7.
While racecourse attendees will be limited to a select few, the Victoria Racing Club has organised a multitude of ways for people to celebrate the Cup carnival at home — including a stellar line-up of entertainment, food and drink options and even themed decorations.
HOW DO YOU CELEBRATE THE MELBOURNE CUP? Share your pictures, memories and traditions via the submission form below or tag #MelbCupTradition on social media.
Fashions on the Field gets a home-based makeover, becoming a Fashions on Your Front Lawn event that brings together high-fashion, millinery, emerging designer and “just for fun” categories.
An all-star Aussie line-up will rock the carnival, with performances to feature in Network Ten’s broadcasts.
Keep an eye on the Herald Sun for regular Melbourne Cup Carnival updates, news and race results.
Find out how celebs are celebrating — and which horses they are tipping — by tuning into our Confidential in the Virtual Birdcage livestreams on the Herald Sun Facebook page on each of the Melbourne Cup Carnival race days.
Here’s everything you need to know about Derby Day, Melbourne Cup, Oaks Day and Stakes Day.
AAMI VICTORIA DERBY DAY
Date: Saturday, October 31
First race: Network 10 Carbine Club Stakes, 11.40am
Feature race: AAMI Victoria Derby, 2500m, 3.45pm
Last race: Furphy Sprint, 5.10pm
DERBY DAY OVERVIEW
The Melbourne Cup Carnival kicks off with Derby Day, which boasts four Group 1 races – the $2 million Kennedy Cantala, $1.5 million Coolmore Stud Stakes, the $1 million Empire Rose Stakes and feature race the $2 million AAMI Victoria Derby.
DERBY DAY ENTERTAINMENT
The Derby Day entertainment line-up includes musicians James Reyne and Illy. Their performances will be broadcast on Network 10, with Illy on first at 12.35pm and Reyne on at 4.10pm.
Tune into the Herald Sun Facebook page at 2pm for Confidential in the Virtual Birdcage, as Nui Te Koha and Jackie Epstein chat to celebs including Nadia Bartel, Jon Stevens and Rob Mills.
HOW TO WATCH DERBY DAY
Derby Day will be broadcast live on Channel 10 and streamed on 10 Play from 11am.
WHAT TO WEAR ON DERBY DAY
Derby Day is known for its traditional blacks, whites and greys. See below for more information about the Fashions on Your Front Lawn event.
LEXUS MELBOURNE CUP DAY
Date: Tuesday, November 3
First race: Darley Maribyrnong Plate, 10.45am
Feature race: Lexus Melbourne Cup, 3200m, 3pm
Last race: The Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes, 5.15pm
MELBOURNE CUP OVERVIEW
The centrepiece of the entire carnival, the $8 million Lexus Melbourne Cup is known as the “race that stops the nation”.
And the world’s eyes will be firmly focused on the iconic Group 1 race, which attracts a field of superstar thoroughbreds.
Favourites to win the 2020 Melbourne Cup include Sir Dragonet, Anthony Van Dyck, Tiger Moth, Surprise Baby, Russian Camelot and Verry Elleegant.
LEXUS MELBOURNE CUP THE RACE OF DREAMS
Three-time Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva headlines a field of 24 champions who will compete against other in the virtual Lexus Melbourne Cup The Race of Dreams.
The virtual race brings together the most memorable winners of the Melbourne Cup’s 160 years, to determine the ultimate champion of champions.
Super Mare Makybe Diva is joined by legendary racehorses including Phar Lap, Carbine, Archer, Let’s Elope, Saintly, Vintage Crop, Americain, Dunaden and Might and Power.
The race will be called by Matt Hill and broadcast on Network 10 and 10 Play at 1.30pm on Cup Day.
MELBOURNE CUP DAY ENTERTAINMENT
The Cup Day line-up is Delta Goodrem, The Rubens, Jon Stevens and his band, Bonnie Anderson and Pete Murray.
Goodrem will perform her song Solid Gold in Sydney, and Stevens, accompanied by his band and an eight-piece string section, will belt out the INXS anthem Never Tear Us Apart from the Flemington Club Stand.
Masked Singer winner and Neighbours star Bonnie Anderson will perform the national anthem.
Performance times are to be confirmed, but they will be broadcast as part of Channel 10’s Melbourne Cup Carnival coverage.
Join Nui Te Koha and Jackie Epstein for the Herald Sun Confidential in the Virtual Birdcage livestream from 2pm, with all the latest celebrity gossip and glamour.
HOW TO WATCH THE MELBOURNE CUP
Network 10 will broadcast live from Flemington from 10am until 5.30pm. Coverage will also be streamed on 10 Play.
WHAT TO WEAR ON MELBOURNE CUP DAY
Melbourne Cup Day is traditionally about having fun with your outfit — think bold, bright colours and fashion-forward headpieces.
KENNEDY OAKS DAY
Date: Thursday, November 5
First race: Twitter Trophy, 12.45pm
Feature race: Kennedy Oaks, 2500m, 5.10pm
Last race: Network 10 Red Roses Stakes, 5.50pm
OAKS DAY OVERVIEW
“Ladies Day” highlights the style, elegance and beauty of spring racing.
While the racing highlight is the $1 million Group 1 Kennedy Oaks for three-year-old fillies, fashion takes centre stage on Oaks Day — and this year is no different.
Oaks Day will see the crowning of the national winners of the 2020 Myer Fashions on Your Front Lawn women’s and men’s racewear categories.
OAKS DAY ENTERTAINMENT
Kate Miller Heidke and Casey Barnes headline the Oaks Day entertainment, which will be shown on Network 10 and 10 Play (times to be confirmed).
Join Nui Te Koha and Jackie Epstein for the Herald Sun Confidential in the Virtual Birdcage livestream from 2pm, featuring all the latest celebrity gossip and glamour.
HOW TO WATCH OAKS DAY
Network 10 and 10 Play will broadcast live from Flemington from noon until 6pm.
WHAT TO WEAR ON OAKS DAY
The dress code for “Ladies Day” is traditionally feminine and floral — think pinks and pastels.
SEPPELT WINES STAKES DAY
Date: Saturday, September 7
First race: Nova 100 Trophy, 12.25pm
Feature race: Seppelt Mackinnon Stakes, 2000m, 5pm
Last race: Seppelt Drumborg Grand Handicap, 5.45pm
STAKES DAY OVERVIEW
The final day of Cup Week is a more relaxed, family-friendly affair and features two Group 1 races.
The $2 million Seppelt Mackinnon Stakes tests the best middle-distance gallopers, while the $2 million Darley Spring Classic attracts some of the world’s fastest horses.
STAKES DAY ENTERTAINMENT
Singer-songwriter Sam Fischer’s set will be broadcast as part of Channel 10 and 10 Play’s live coverage.
Bonnie Anderson will also return to Flemington to sing three of her hits.
Join Nui Te Koha and Jackie Epstein for the Herald Sun Confidential in the Virtual Birdcage livestream from 2pm, featuring all the latest celebrity gossip and glamour.
HOW TO WATCH STAKES DAY
Channel 10 and 10 Play will broadcast Stakes Day live from Flemington from noon to 6pm.
WHAT TO WEAR ON STAKES DAY
As you’d expect for “Family Day”, it has a relaxed dress code compared with other race days.
MELBOURNE CUP CARNIVAL FASHIONS ON YOUR FRONT LAWN
Fashions on the Field has been replaced by Fashions on Your Front Lawn this year — featuring both the traditional racewear competitions and new “Just for Fun” categories.
The men’s and women’s racewear, millinery and emerging designer categories have already closed to entries, but the Just for Fun contest will run all week of the carnival.
Whether it’s with mad hats, wacky outfits or just something more glamorous than tracky dacks, there Just for Fun categories aim to help people get into the Melbourne Cup Carnival spirit at home.
Just for Fun categories include Cup Week Costumes, Family Ties, Lounge in Style, Mad Hatters.
- Cup Week Costumes: Let your imagination run wild with fancy dress or your most elaborate racing-inspired look.
- Family Ties: Get the whole family, including pets, to put their best-dressed foot forward.
- Lounge in Style: For those who are ready to take off the trackies and put on something fit for a chic garden party.
- Mad Hatters: Have some DIY fun with headwear made at home.
Entries will be judged by a panel of experts including Fashions on Your Front Lawn ambassadors Rob Mills and Olivia Molly Rogers, Myer ambassador Kris Smith and trainer Gai Waterhouse.
“My tip: The more showstopping and outrageous your outfit, the better,” said Mills.
All Fashions on Your Front Lawn winners will be announced on Stakes Day on Saturday, November 7, with prizes up for grabs including TCL entertainment packages, Antler luggage and $40,000 of Myer gift vouchers.
To enter the Just For Fun Myer Fashions on your Front Lawn categories simply upload a photo to Instagram, tagging @FlemingtonVRC #cupweekfashion plus the relevant category hashtag.
Just For Fun entries open on AAMI Victoria Derby Day, Saturday 31st October, at 9am and close on Kennedy Oaks Day, Thursday, November 5, at 11.59pm.
MELBOURNE CUP CARNIVAL FOOD AND DRINK
While you may not be able to get to Flemington Racecourse, you can enjoy the classic race day experience by ordering home-delivered food hampers.
Caterers who would usually be dishing up food on course have turned their hands to preparing a huge selection of hampers for all tastes and budges.
The VRC has curated a range of offerings from the likes Peter Rowland Group, Blake’s Feast, Chyka Keebaugh’s The Big Group and Libby Reid, plus drinks from Furphy, Seppelt and G.H. Mumm — all available on a dedicated marketplace on its Cup Week website.
Lexus has chef Neil Perry creating a luxe lunch box of his Asian-inspired fare, while restaurants and caterers around Melbourne are putting their own spin on snacks, brunch and lunch, with many available to be ordered directly or through delivery services such as providoor.com.au
Bartel says given Victorians have spent so much time at home this year, the carnival provides the perfect opportunity to let someone else do the cooking.
“We’ve spent all this time at home and cooking a lot more, so I think now when you’ve got the races happening, you don’t want to cook any more – just delivered to you to plate it up, so you can enjoy the day,” she said.
OTHER WAYS TO CELEBRATE MELBOURNE CUP CARNIVAL AT HOME
If you want to go all out in emulating the glitz and glamour of race days at home, themed decorations might be the answer.
VRC’s Cup Week marketplace lists a selection of operators offering everything from floral designs to furniture, party essentials, tableware and DIY craft kits.
To further add to the at-home experience, the Cup Week website will feature specially curated playlists so you can bring the party to life in your lounge room or backyard.
VRC members will have exclusive access to special offers and content to help them celebrate their Cup Week.
HOW ARE YOU CELEBRATING THE RACE THAT STOPS THE NATION? SHARE YOUR PICTURES AND STORIES BELOW.