Towns saddle up to get on this year’s Melbourne Cup Tour

TOWNS across the Geelong region are invited to follow in Portarlington’s footsteps last year and saddle up as a destination on this year’s Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour.

Applications officially opened last week for the 21st tour, which will again celebrate the heroes and stories linked to the Victoria Racing Club’s (VRC) 162-year-old race.

Each year, the 18-carat gold Cup visits various destinations in an effort to unite communities by engaging councils, schools, hospitals, aged-care homes and racing groups in events to raise funds for local causes.

Once selected as a tour destination, communities will be supported by the VRC to plan and host a range of events during the cup’s visit.

Several racing legends will accompany the cup as tour ambassadors and share their Melbourne Cup memories.

Portarlington was selected to be part of the 2022 tour, with the cup arriving on the ferry in Geelong from Docklands escorted by 2019 Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Danny O’Brien and 36-time Melbourne Cup race caller Greg Miles, as well as Portarlington Business Development Association president John Rae and vice-president Ashley Andrew.

The cup was then ferried to a special Melbourne Cup Tour function at the newly refurbished Portarlington Grand Hotel, and also visited Portarlington Primary School, several local businesses, and an evening function at the Portarlington Golf Club.

The tour was first held in 2003. Since then, the cup has visited 462 schools, 380 hospital and aged care centres and participated in nearly 2,000 community events, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for local fundraising initiatives.

VRC chair Neil Wilson said the tour had become one of the most important community initiatives of the VRC.

“The Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour gives us a unique opportunity to share the magic of the People’s Cup with communities across Australia and indeed the world.

“After 20 years, the tour has evolved into such a significant community event and last year we had a record number of applications and every year it just continues to grow in popularity.

“We are humbled by the excitement and joy the Lexus Melbourne Cup brings people of all ages and backgrounds and want to ensure that as many communities as possible can share in the magic of the trophy again this year as part of its annual tour.

“We are also thrilled to once again include the Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour National Sweep in this year’s tour and look forward to supporting local community initiatives.”

The National Sweep was introduced by the VRC in 2019.

It sees the 24 tour destinations across Australia allocated a starting gate for the Melbourne Cup, with the winning gate holder to receive a cash prize of $50,000 for a community charity of their choice.

Applications can be made online at MelbourneCupTour.com.au until April 12.

Successful submissions will be announced in June, with the tour to start its journey in July.