Melbourne CupThe first race meeting at Melbourne was held on March 6 and 7, 1838, less than three years after the first settlers arrived. The first track was marked out on the present site of the North Melbourne Railway Station. With few horses there were only two races each day. Bullock trucks served as grandstands and a clothes prop was stuck into the ground for a winning post. All bets were made and paid with bottles of rum.Two years later saw the birth of Flemington, headquarters of The Victoria Racing Club, the controlling body of racing in that state, on a site on the banks of The Maribyrnong River. At first the site was known as "The Racecourse" but it was later named Flemington after the local butcher, Bob Fleming. The inaugural fixture was a three day event on March 3, 4 and 5 1840, with a total of twelve races. From it's inception Flemington was destined to become a great venue to attract the best horses for the richest prize money. A succession of small clubs conducted the early race meetings at Flemington and it was The Victoria Turf Club which staged the first Melbourne Cup in 1861. This race, referred to in Encyclopaedia Britannica as the "greatest all age handicap in the world", has grown from strength to strength since the formation of the Victoria Racing Club and is run on the first Tuesday in November each year. In 1865 the Government declared Melbourne Cup day a half holiday and since 1866 it has been a full holiday. Flemington is a magnificent racecourse with the mile and a half (2400metres) start in front of the main grandstands and a run from the home turn to the winning post of more than two furlongs. Another feature is the "straight six" (now 1200 metres) which joins the main course at the home turn. The birdcage area, sweeping lawns (which extend the full length of the members stands), a tree lined lawn section for the public at the end of the straight plus a public grandstand complex make Flemington a show case spectacle. It is among the best racecourses in The World. Flemington during Melbourne Cup week is a mixture of the carnival atmosphere of Epsom on Derby Day and the fashionable elegance of The Royal Ascot meeting and is a truly amazing experience! Contact Sporting Chronicle |