By Casey OÇonnor
The 2022 Melbourne Cup made its way to Allora recently along with dual Melbourne Cup winning jockey John Letts, members of the VRC staff and a security man who you would not wish to tackle.
The Cup valued at $275,000 was very well guarded as it made its way around the Southern Downs as part of the 2022 Melbourne Cup Tour.
I asked Letts his opinion of the big money races now on offer and how if they would impact on the status of the Melbourne Cup has in Australian folklore.
“Winning the Cup is about more than the prizemoney,” he said.
“No amount of money will ever replace the history associated with the Melbourne Cup and the iconic trophy.
“Look no further than the trophy – the three handles of the trophy representing the efforts of the owner trainer and jockey. It is unique and very special. Winning this race changed my life, he said. “And it will do the same for whoever wins this year.”
Letts, who had an incredible riding career, went on to spend 10 years after his retirement meeting and greeting Melbourne Cup winners on the former Clerk of the Course horse Banjo working for channel Seven’s Melbourne Cup broadcast, interviewing winning jockeys as they pulled up after the race.
Especially having to interview the Japanese rider of the winner Delta Blue who spoke no English.
The other half of the Spin team was excited to renew her acquaintance with champion Jockey John Letts that dates back 1972 through Piping Lane.
Letts won the first of two Melbourne Cups on the George Hanlon trained galloper
While in Allora Letts was able to visit the Sports Museum and take in the memorabilia donated by former jumps jockey Paul Hamblin who rode in Adelaide but hails from the Allora district.
The Cup will have visited 33 communities across Australia, New Zealand and Singapore by the time it makes its way to the enclosure at Flemington on the first Tuesday in November to be presented to the owners of the 2022 Melbourne Cup.
The Cup is carefully crafted from gold mined at Wylong in NSW and the base is crafted from the finest Jarrah wood sourced from Western Australia.
The people’s cup as the Melbourne Cup is known will truly have touched the lives of many before its final journey.
It was thanks to the efforts of the Allora Sports Museum that the Allora was selected as one of the destinations for the Cup to visit. A barrier number will be drawn for Allora in the days leading up to the Cup and should the horse that jumps from that barrier win the Cup the town will receive $50,000 to use on a community project.
There will be hooting and hollering if that happens on the first Tuesday in November.
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