Looking back at the wildest Melbourne Cup photos of all time ahead of 2022 race

There’s nothing that brings the class out of Aussies like the race that stops the nation, so let’s take a look at some of the greatest moments.

Melbourne Cup day is all sorts of fun.

It’s the race that stops a nation.

Australia’s biggest horse race – the Melbourne Cup – is upon us on Tuesday, November 1.

With rain forecast in Melbourne for the next week, it’s looking like it’ll be a muddy one – surely a few shoes will go astray at this year’s event.

Here we take a look back at how the punters of Australia celebrate Melbourne Cup, both on bins and in them – from on the ground at Flemington, Randwick, Doomben and beyond.

Surely a contender for a Melbourne Cup Best Punter Lifetime Achievement award. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

This bloke’s still getting rid of the smell. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

What are friends for? Picture: NCA Newswire/Gaye Gerard

What a hero. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

Bottoms up. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

There goes his going out shirt.

This racegoer enjoys a delightful frolic among the trash and seagulls.

Not sure why this phone doesn’t work.

Winners are grinners – Luke, Jack and Nathan after Luke wins over $6000 on the Melbourne Cup.

If only you could hear a picture. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

These young punters were enjoying life post lockdown at Randwick in 2021. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Picture: Diego Fedele/Getty Images

If any of the jockeys pulled out in 2021, this bloke was ready to step in.

Melburnians enjoying post lockdown life at the Cup in 2021.

Let’s get one nice photo. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Be kind to your local friendly police officers on the day, as this punter was doing at Eagle Farm’s Cup celebrations in 2021. Picture: Steve Pohlner

One for the ‘gram, but everybody look in a different direction.

Every Victorian when lockdown ended. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

2018 was a muddy year at Flemington. Picture: Jason Edwards

Winning isn’t everything.

Be like this guy. Picture: Mark Stewart

Behold the very last public appearance of this guy’s chinos. Picture: Mark Stewart

No time like the present for a power nap. Picture: AAP Image/James Ross

No one has cared less about missing a selfie with her mates. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

When you’ve been shredding and feel the need to show off your talents. Picture: AAP Image/Richard Gosling

Best way to keep your feet out of the mud. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

My guess is they weren’t drinking too wisely.

Yiiiieeeeew. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

So many booby traps at the Melbourne Cup. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

There’s always one.

No shoes getting left behind here. Picture: Nicki Connolly

Bye, bye thongs. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

This guy’s still looking for his Uber. Picture: AAP Image/Dave Crosling

Why? There are no reasons why. Picture: Mark Stewart

Young love. Picture: Jenny Evans/Getty Images

No glass, no problem. Picture: Jenny Evans/Getty Images

Triple parked. Picture: Jenny Evans/Getty Images

Surely there’s an easier way to kiss. Picture: Jenny Evans/Getty Images

Gotta work off those glasses of champers somehow. Picture: Jenny Evans/Getty Images

There’s a race on? Picture: Jenny Evans/Getty Images

A smiling security guard helps this punter at Doomben. Photographer: Liam Kidston

Ready to head home. Photographer: Liam Kidston

Not the live cross she was hoping for – Channel 10 reporter mooned live on air during Melbourne Cup post race coverage in Ascot, Perth. Picture: Channel 10

She’s probably asking herself how she got up there too. Photographer: Liam Kidston

There’s always one. Picture: Patrick Woods/Sunshine Coast Daily

These two ladies share a moment. Photographer: Liam Kidston

This Doomben racegoer gives a thumbs up to social distancing in 2020. Picture: Liam Kidston