This year’s Melbourne Cup will be like no other in our racing history due to Covid -19. The 3200m race, first run in 1861, will take place at 3pm on November 3 2020, the first Tuesday in November.
Lillian and I, had planned to attend the 2020 Melbourne Cup and to catch up with a couple of my relatives whilst in Melbourne we cancelled mid- year, when it was clear that the borders were unlikely to re-open for some time with NSW. Our credits will be put towards a trip to Hobart and the east coast of Tasmania in 2021.
I took my late father to the 1988 Bicentennial Melbourne Cup, which Empire Rose won (my father backed the winner). Margaret and I attended the 2010 Melbourne Cup, which was raced in overcast conditions. The heavens opened before the end of the race! Amercain won – I had backed the winner Americain, which was French-trained, and also the second place getter, Maluckyday . Margaret and I attended a luncheon at Flemington Racecourse, one of the many happening on the day.
The 2020 Cup will have a majority of Australian runners and a few overseas horses, who have quarantined. Each Melbourne Cup we see a number of jockeys, who are based overseas, fly into Melbourne to ride in this prestigious race. The annual trip south to Melbourne for Sydney jockeys is happening, but these jockeys have to quarantine.
The VRC has announced that there will be no spectators at the Melbourne Cup, as strict Covid 19 protocols have been in place for months in Victoria. The 144th running of the Caulfield Cup on October 17 2020 had no spectators present, and the stands were again empty at the 100th running of the Cox Plate on October 24 2020. When the horses fly out of the barriers in the Cup, there is an almighty roar from the crowd, which travels around the course!
Very few Melbourne Cup luncheons are being held this year in Sydney due to Covid -19. Last year on Melbourne Cup Day, I was guest speaker on Moorefield Racecourse, Kogarah, Sydney at Hurstville Probus Club at Penshurst RSL , Sydney. I wore a dress that I had purchased at the Department store, De Bijenkorf in Utretcht, Netherlands on October 24 2019.
The few Melbourne Cup functions that are happening in Sydney will allow attendees to dress up to celebrate the occasion. It is always fun to choose one’s outfit………
Fun, fashion, entertainment and crowd atmosphere at the Melbourne Cup will have to wait until 2021.
October 29 2020
