By Jess Baker
As the Melbourne Cup embarks this weekend on a months-long tour around Australia, the Southern Downs prepares to join racing history.
Warwick has officially been declared a destination in the 19th annual Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour and will host the iconic 18-carat gold trophy on Wednesday 29 September.
Warwick Turf Club has already begun planning a range of community events for visitors and locals to enjoy as part of the visit, with a number of racing legends accompanying the Cup as Tour Ambassadors.
Honorary Treasurer of Warwick Turf Club Kathy Wyvill said the community was looking forward to being part of this year’s tour.
“Warwick is known as the ‘Horsepower Capital of Australia’ so it is only fitting the iconic Lexus Melbourne Cup trophy visits as part of its annual tour,” she said.
“We look forward to sharing the Cup with the community.”
The Turf Club will be supported by the Victoria Racing Club in planning and hosting events during the Cup’s visit.
Warwick will join 29 other towns and cities across Australia in hosting the Cup and will also be part of the Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour National Sweep – an initiative that gives 24 Cup Tour destinations the chance to be allocated a barrier for the 2021 Lexus Melbourne Cup.
The town which draws the barrier of the Lexus Melbourne Cup-winning horse will be presented with a cash prize of $50,000 to be dedicated to a nominated charity for a local community initiative.
Warwick Turf Club Secretary Kristen Doyle said if Warwick wins the cash prize, all funds will be donated to the Endeavour Foundation’s Warwick Learning and Lifestyle centre.
Victoria Racing Club Chairman Neil Wilson said the tour plays an important role in showcasing towns and communities with people across Australia and the world.
“The (club) is pleased to be taking the iconic Lexus Melbourne Cup trophy back on the road after restricted travel last year, and sharing it with the nation again,” Neil said.
“Now in its 19th year, the Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour allows local communities to come together to share stories, celebrate their favourite racing moments and to raise funds for local community charities and initiatives in their town.”
The Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour will officially begin this Saturday 3 July at Port Augusta in South Australia, when it attends the Port Augusta Cup race meeting.
The Cup will travel through South Australia to Victoria, then to New South Wales, the Northern Territory, Western Australia, Queensland, and Tasmania – finishing up back in Victoria on 2 November for the Lexus Melbourne Cup Day.
