High Country Legend helps kick off Melbourne Cup tour

Charlie Lovick used to run the Flemington straight right before the race that stops the nation. Now, the trophy he guided is doing a fundraising tour across the country.

Charlie Lovick, famed High Country rider and Master of Horse for The Many From Snowy River films, has met an old friend again in the Melbourne Cup trophy to raise awareness for a large fundraising platform. Pictures: Zoe Phillips

It had been a long time since Charlie Lovick, famed High Country rider and master of horse for The Man from Snowy River films, had held the Melbourne Cup aloft and the moment was not lost on him.

Charlie Lovick with Pam the Thoroughbred ex-race horse and the Lexus Melbourne Cup.

“It was quite emotional for me,” he said. “It’s the biggest thing in horseriding in Australia as far as I’m concerned.”

For 12 years, Charlie and the High Country Horsemen would ride with the cup down the straight at Flemington right before the race that stops the nation.

“I was lucky enough to hold it in 2002, it’s an emotional homecoming,” he said.

Now, as part of the celebrations in the lead-up to this year’s Melbourne Cup, applications to host the 2023 Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour are open.

It was an “emotional homecoming” between Charlie and the famed trophy.

Towns and cities across Australia can apply, with 24 successful entrants each assigned a barrier for the big race. The host location assigned the barrier from which the winning horse jumps will take home $50,000 to be spent on the charity of their choice.

Charlie, who is now director of The Horse and Human Foundation, which aims to rehabilitate and rehome racehorses after their racing days are done, knows what he’d spend the money on.

“Look, if it was in Mansfield, the local racecourse could do with a great improvement,” he said. “We could get young people involved with horses and get those people who have had a downturn in their life in contact with these great animals.

“(Horseracing) is a great industry but we need to clean up some ends. It’s a huge industry, so many people ride on its coat-tails and people need to know we’re here for the horses.”