Cambridge saddles up for Melbourne Cup party

Cambridge is set to launch itself as New Zealand’s official Melbourne Cup region, with plans underway to host New Zealand’s finest and most public Melbourne Cup celebration ever.

This iconic community event is to be launched on Tuesday November 3 (2009) – and is set to repeat annually on the first Tuesday in  November, in keeping with almost 150 years of Melbourne Cup tradition. It is on this historic date that enthusiasts around the world immerse themselves in the carnival atmosphere of the famous Melbourne Cup Raceday, held annually at Flemington Racecourse in Victoria.

Cambridge has already stamped its presence on Cup history, as home to an impressive 14 Melbourne Cup winners, eight of which are associated with Cambridge Stud. The launch of the Cambridge Melbourne Cup Event cements this link, enabling the wider community to enjoy and celebrate these outstanding equestrian achievements.

Formed last year, The First Tuesday Charitable Trust, includes as trust members; Olympian Mark Todd, renowned racing presenter Karyn Fenton-Ellis and Waipa deputy mayor Peter Lee.This Charitable Trust, alongside Waipa District Council, is planning New Zealand’s premiere Melbourne Cup Event.

“As Cambridge is the heart of the New Zealand equine world, it is wonderful that a celebration of this calibre will he held, involving the entire community,” said Waipa Mayor Alan Livingston. “It also acknowledges the significance of the Cambridge racing industry and its outstanding achievement of producing 14 Melbourne Cup winners.”

The Cambridge Village Green will be transformed into the lush world which is the Melbourne Cup. The next best thing to actually being there; this beautiful site is to feature an enormous screen displaying live Melbourne Cup races, on-site TAB for punters to test their luck, Fashions in the Field (supporting the CatWalk Trust), local celebrities, family entertainment, live music and of course corporate and public raceday nibbles and drinks, alongside popular picnic areas.

“We want this to be an event where anyone can join in and celebrate Cambridge and its connections to the Melbourne Cup,” said First Tuesday Trust chairman Noel Power. “From racing enthusiasts to families and tourists; this is a true regional event. We’re extremely excited about the potential for it to grow into a full week of activities and events in the future and hope it will encourage other equestrian groups to become involved, perhaps making this a national event.”

Among the activities planned, the Cambridge Town Hall will undergo a transformation, becoming a Melbourne Cup Museum for the week – with original Melbourne Cups and associated memorabilia on display, kindly loaned from local and national collections.

Sir Patrick Hogan, one of the most influential breeders of Melbourne Cup winners, with Cambridge Stud’s two great sires, Sir Tristram and Zabeel, having produced six winners between them, is another keen supporter of this local initiative. “I commend the organisors of this event,” said Sir Patrick Hogan, “and fully endorse this exciting concept. I believe it will encourage greater knowledge of the Melbourne Cup to people in New Zealand, not only within the racing fraternity but just as importantly to the business sector.”

Cambridge is the proven breeding ground of more Melbourne Cup winners than any other area of Australia and New Zealand. Trelawney Stud has bred seven winners and Mayor Alan Livingstone hopes the community will rally behind the event and celebrate this unique facet of Cambridge.

More exciting announcements regarding Cambridge Melbourne Cup Event will be made closer to the official event.
The First Tuesday Trust has chosen The CatWalk Spinal Cord Injury Trust as its designated charity for the Cambridge Melbourne Cup Event.

“The CatWalk Trust is delighted to have been invited to join forces with the First Tuesday Charitable Trust for its inaugural Melbourne Cup Celebration,” said Trust Manager Meg Speirs.“Sport related accidents account for the second highest percentage of new spinal cord injuries in New Zealand each year (second only to motor vehicle accidents). Of this group, horse riding consistently rates as one of the highest offenders.

“The Cambridge festivity promises to be to be a day full of entertainment, colour, glamour and most importantly, racing! Not only will the day provide punters with the chance to experience Melbourne Cup fever at its very best, it will also allow CatWalk the opportunity to spread the word about the need to find a cure for spinal cord injury and our goal to make wheelchairs a thing of the past… it’s not a matter of if, but when.”