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2018 Melbourne Cup drunks on the lawn. Picture: Jason Edwards

From glam to goon: Melbourne Cup Day’s most chaotic scenes ever

Olivia Harris
1 min read·November 05, 2023 - 1:19PM
News Corp Australia Network

Melbourne Cup Day sees ‘drunk and disorderly’ taken to a whole new level as racegoers swap finery for filth. We look at the best - or perhaps worst - moments of the Melbourne Cup Day over the past two decades.

 

A man dressed as Jim Carrey’s character in The Mask takes a power nap. Picture: Norm Oorloff
A man dressed as Jim Carrey’s character in The Mask takes a power nap. Picture: Norm Oorloff

 

Racegoers jump for joy with their champagne after a long day in the sun. Picture: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
Racegoers jump for joy with their champagne after a long day in the sun. Picture: Dan Himbrechts/AAP

 

Peter Hore dancing on Flemington turf during running of 1997 Melbourne Cup race. He was later jailed after facing charges of being drunk in a public place and conduct endangering people. Picture: John Feder
Peter Hore dancing on Flemington turf during running of 1997 Melbourne Cup race. He was later jailed after facing charges of being drunk in a public place and conduct endangering people. Picture: John Feder

 

A racegoer thrills the crowd - and ruins his chinos - as he performs a flip after the last race. Pictures: Scott Barbour, Mark Stewart
A racegoer thrills the crowd - and ruins his chinos - as he performs a flip after the last race. Pictures: Scott Barbour, Mark Stewart

 

Socks proved a step too far for a punter at the end of the day. Picture: Chris Putnam/Future Publishing via Getty Images
Socks proved a step too far for a punter at the end of the day. Picture: Chris Putnam/Future Publishing via Getty Images

 

What else are ties for? Race day shenanigans kick off as a makeshift game of limbo gets the crowd going. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images
What else are ties for? Race day shenanigans kick off as a makeshift game of limbo gets the crowd going. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

 

After a day at the races, some just can’t keep up(right). Picture: Nicole Garmston
After a day at the races, some just can’t keep up(right). Picture: Nicole Garmston

 

Double-parked and loving life at the 2016 Melbourne Cup. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin
Double-parked and loving life at the 2016 Melbourne Cup. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

 

There’s a race on? Women enjoy their picnic as other racegoers get a glimpse of the riders on parade. Picture: Jenny Evans/Getty Images
There’s a race on? Women enjoy their picnic as other racegoers get a glimpse of the riders on parade. Picture: Jenny Evans/Getty Images

 

Chairs: the unexpected race day essential for rain protection. Picture: Alex Coppel
Chairs: the unexpected race day essential for rain protection. Picture: Alex Coppel

 

Nothing to see here. A racegoer takes a nap as security officers do a lap of the grounds. Picture: Supplied
Nothing to see here. A racegoer takes a nap as security officers do a lap of the grounds. Picture: Supplied

 

It’s all a little much for one lady as she takes an emergency nap. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images
It’s all a little much for one lady as she takes an emergency nap. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

 

Racegoers enjoy drunken antics towards the end of the day. Picture: Jake Nowakowski
Racegoers enjoy drunken antics towards the end of the day. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

 

You’re never too old to chase the birds. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images
You’re never too old to chase the birds. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

 

Melbourne’s unreliable weather sparks chaos as racegoers are forced to shelter from the wind and rain. Picture: George Salpigtidis
Melbourne’s unreliable weather sparks chaos as racegoers are forced to shelter from the wind and rain. Picture: George Salpigtidis

 

All the world’s a stage: A racegoer makes the most of a shelter as others take cover from the poor weather. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images
All the world’s a stage: A racegoer makes the most of a shelter as others take cover from the poor weather. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

 

We cannot confirm if this Scotsman adhered to traditional kilt custom as he performed a cartwheel for the crowd. Picture: David Geraghty
We cannot confirm if this Scotsman adhered to traditional kilt custom as he performed a cartwheel for the crowd. Picture: David Geraghty

 

Bottoms up. Picture: Andrew Tauber
Bottoms up. Picture: Andrew Tauber

 

Flash flooding in Southbank made the journey somewhat more treacherous than usual. Picture: Nicki Connolly
Flash flooding in Southbank made the journey somewhat more treacherous than usual. Picture: Nicki Connolly

 

Racegoers try to climb onto an umbrella using crates at the end of the day. Picture: Tracey Nearmy/AAP
Racegoers try to climb onto an umbrella using crates at the end of the day. Picture: Tracey Nearmy/AAP

 

A drunk punter sleeps it off in a convenient location. Picture: David Crosling
A drunk punter sleeps it off in a convenient location. Picture: David Crosling

 

A woman attempts to scale a fence to rejoin her friends. Picture: Jay Town
A woman attempts to scale a fence to rejoin her friends. Picture: Jay Town

 

Two racegoers embrace as they make their way home. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images
Two racegoers embrace as they make their way home. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

 

Love takes many forms, like a ride home on race day. Picture: John Gass/AAP
Love takes many forms, like a ride home on race day. Picture: John Gass/AAP

 

Snacks are a vital part of Cup Day. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images
Snacks are a vital part of Cup Day. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

 

Perhaps they didn’t see the sign. Picture: Jason Edwards
Perhaps they didn’t see the sign. Picture: Jason Edwards

 

Racegoers jump into a pile of garbage at the end of the day. Picture: Tracey Nearmy/AAP
Racegoers jump into a pile of garbage at the end of the day. Picture: Tracey Nearmy/AAP

 

A racegoer’s performance goes unnoticed by crowd members. Picture: Jason Edwards
A racegoer’s performance goes unnoticed by crowd members. Picture: Jason Edwards

 

Racegoers stage their own races after the main event. Picture: Mark Stewart
Racegoers stage their own races after the main event. Picture: Mark Stewart

 

Two racegoers sleep on the lawn during the clean up at Flemington Racecourse. Picture: Nicole Garmston
Two racegoers sleep on the lawn during the clean up at Flemington Racecourse. Picture: Nicole Garmston

 

A racegoer shelters unsuccessfully from a photograph. Picture: Jake Nowakowski
A racegoer shelters unsuccessfully from a photograph. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

 

Punters dance to their own tune at the end of the day. Picture: Chris Putnam/Future Publishing via Getty Images
Punters dance to their own tune at the end of the day. Picture: Chris Putnam/Future Publishing via Getty Images

 

Racegoers fumble in the bushes during Cup Day. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images
Racegoers fumble in the bushes during Cup Day. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

 

A racegoer loses her shoe in the mud as they make their way home. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images
A racegoer loses her shoe in the mud as they make their way home. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

 

Heels off for the walk home as girls depart race day. Picture: Richard Gosling/AAP
Heels off for the walk home as girls depart race day. Picture: Richard Gosling/AAP

 

A racegoer attempts to befriend the seagulls. Picture: Jason Edwards
A racegoer attempts to befriend the seagulls. Picture: Jason Edwards

 

Racegoers are hit with hot sun, hail, rain and even a rainbow after the last race. Picture: Jason Edwards
Racegoers are hit with hot sun, hail, rain and even a rainbow after the last race. Picture: Jason Edwards

 

A couple of punters face a prickly landing after collapsing into a rose bush. Picture: Jason Edwards
A couple of punters face a prickly landing after collapsing into a rose bush. Picture: Jason Edwards

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Original URL: https://www.ntnews.com.au/news/photos/from-glam-to-goon-melbourne-cup-days-most-chaotic-scenes-ever/news-story/711389ecccf62ce8bfaec10e6da22b38