Melbourne Cup photos: Funniest punters ever

It’s that time of year again. Yes, the day where no wheelie bin or garden bed is safe. Bust out your best chinos as we take a look back at the wildest punters of year’s past.

Australia’s biggest horse racing day is nearly here.

As the bookies rub their hands together, the clueless amateur punters of Australia will come out of the woodwork to place bets on a horse based on their favourite number or coloured jersey.

It’s a day where puddles of mud are there to dive head first into and wheelie bins are there to be ridden.

While most of us will watch the race from the safety of our offices or living rooms, some brave souls do decide to head to the source.

Here we take a walk down memory lane at some of the loosest punters to be photographed at Melbourne Cup events at both Flemington and racecourses around Australia.

Hitching a ride. Picture: Michael Dodge/Getty Images

A Melbourne Cup hall of famer - this merry woman walks into an unsuspecting rubbish bin at Flemington. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

Thankfully this highheeled racegoer had a knight in shining armour in her midst. Picture: Craig Borrow/News Corp Australia

Mulitasking at its best. Picture: Michael Dodge/Getty Images

Pose for a photo, boys? Picture: Michael Dodge/Getty Images

No amount of Napisan will fix those chinos. Picture: Mark Stewart/News Corp Australia

Someone was a winner. Picture: Jake Nowakowski/News Corp Australia

A game of trust. Picture: Jake Nowakowski/News Corp Australia

Actual photo caption provided by Getty Images: “A man is pushed into a rubbish bin following 2016 Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington Racecourse on November 1, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia.” Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

Another man in chinos putting on show for the masses. Picture: Mark Stewart/News Corp Australia

He even found a friend. Picture: Mark Stewart/News Corp Australia

These ladies made the most of their day out drinking at Doomben in Brisbane on Cup Day. Photographer: Liam Kidston/News Corp Australia

An interesting way to get carried home at Doomben on Melbourne Cup in 2018. Picture: John Gass/AAP

Cue Golden Girls theme: “Thankyou for being a frieeeeend.” Picture: John Gass/AAP

When the crowd is loving your every move. Picture: Jenny Evans/Getty Images

Afternoon nap, anyone? Picture: Jake Nowakowski/News Corp Australia

It’s a horse race not a drinking race. Picture: Jenny Evans/Getty Images

When the ground turns to mud, the shoes are off. Picture: Jason Edwards/News Corp Australia

A very common theme often seen well into the day - man in garden bed. Picture: Jason Edwards/News Corp Australia

There’s always one person not looking at the camera. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin/News Corp Australia

Backflip time. Picture: Jason Edwards/News Corp Australia

This guy’s had a big day. Picture: Mark Stewart/News Corp Australia

More men get covered in pollen. Picture: Jason Edwards/News Corp Australia

Down the hatch. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin/News Corp Australia

Picture: Yuri Kouzmin/News Corp Australia

Time to practice those footy moves. Picture: Jason Edwards

If there’s a hint of rain at the Melbourne Cup, men diving into water is also a common theme. Picture: Jason Edwards

He’s no Ian Thorpe. Picture: Jason Edwards

Safety first fan at Doomben in 2020. Picture: Liam Kidston/News Corp Australia

A smiling security guard guides this young lady at Doomben in Brisbane. Photographer: Liam Kidston

Just having a cuddle. Picture: Tracey Nearmy/AAP

When your hands are full and you sneeze. Picture: news.com.au

The shirts are off. Picture: news.com.au

Great form. Picture: news.com.au

When you bring two umbrellas and it doesn’t rain. Picture: news.com.au

These boys are ready to go home. Picture: news.com.au

After seeing all of those photos from years past, here are my very scientific weather predictions for Cup Day:

Heavy rain: Men dive into pools of water (shirt on or off).

Drizzle: Men dive into whatever mud they can get their hands on (shirt on or off).

Mostly cloudy or just plain old sunny: Men and women dive into a beautiful looking garden bed.

The race takes place at 3pm on Tuesday November 7, 2023 at Flemington racecourse in Melbourne, with live TV coverage taking place on Channel 10.