It will be a carnival-like atmosphere when the Melbourne Cup visits Wanganui next month reports Iain Hyndman
EVERYONE has experienced the thrill of the race that stops two nations, but few have seen first-hand the Holy Grail that is the Melbourne Cup itself.
Wanganui has the privilege of hosting the New Zealand leg of the Cup Tour on September 28 and 29 and a range of community-based activities are planned to showcase the 18-carat gold cup worth A$175,000 ($195,000).
Wanganui has strong links to the Melbourne Cup with at least three horses from the region winning the great race.
Wotan was the first, claiming the great race in 1936 at odds of 100-1. He was raced by the Smith brothers and direct descendant Peter Smith and wife Barbara still breed thoroughbreds at the home base in Papaiti in upper Aramoho.
While 1995 winner Doreimus was not owned or raced by Wanganui connections it was foaled at Grangewilliam Stud in Waitotara by John Corcoran.
The most famous, of course, is Kiwi, from Snow Lupton's farm in Waverley.
Kiwi gained almost legendary status with his last-to-first victory in 1983. Then there was the almost as famous near miss by Chris Turner's Veandercross in the 1990s. He went down by a narrow margin when running second.
The Wanganui Jockey Club has been charged with caring for the Cup during its stay in the River City next month.
Operations manager Bret Field said the club was keen for the entire community to be involved.
"The local tour has a great mix of culture and heritage, as well as community and tourism-based activities that highlight Wanganui attractions, organisations and the racing industry, while offering opportunities for the public to come along and be involved."
The tour dinner on the Sunday night (September 28) has been combined with the club's 92.8 MORE FM Annual Racing awards for the just completed 2013/14 season, and is a celebration of racing as well as local successes.
"There will be live entertainment, prizes for the best dressed man and woman, and fundraising raffles for our injured jockey Thomas Russell.
"New councillor Jason Granville will MC the night, with Trackside presenter and local boy Bevan Sweeney taking over the reins for the Melbourne Cup Tour celebrations, which will involve some great guest speakers and previous coverage of the race that stops two nations."
Tickets are $40 from the Wanganui Jockey Club and include a great feast catered by Infusion Catering.
"On the Monday, Jason Granville then takes the Cup on the 'Take It Easy Tours' bus visiting a range of venues and organisations around Wanganui," Mr Field said.
The Cup will be officially welcomed onto Putiki Wharanui Marae before heading to Jane Winstone Retirement Village and Hospice Wanganui for the morning. From midday to 3pm there will be a Family Fun Day at Hatrick raceway, the home of the Wanganui Greyhound Racing Club, who will host a race meeting on the night of the running of the Emirates Melbourne Cup Day this year on November 4.
"The Monday is the first day of the school holidays so bring the kids down for pony rides, bouncy castles, V8 simulator, Virtual Reality experience, New Zealand's only 10D cinema or get something refreshing from the cafe or Arties Cool Az Ice cream truck. There will also be live music and raffles, and of course, a once in a lifetime opportunity to have your photo taken with the prestigious Melbourne Cup."
The Vintage Car Club will then take over the second leg of the tour heading towards the waterfront. There will be a special sailing of the paddlesteamer Waimarie at 4pm and a tram ride. Tickets are available now from the i-SITE centre for $25.
Along the way there will also be an afternoon tea stop at Jolt Coffee House and then the farewell at the Riverside Bar (both businesses are sponsors of the WJC) from 5pm, where business people can catch up with the tour and have their chance to see the Cup up close.