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9 unusual facts about Melbourne Cup


Anti-Terrorism Act 2005

The Australian government planned for the bill to be introduced, debated and passed on 1 November 2005 (Melbourne Cup race day).

Australian Kelpie

An early Kelpie, Sally was mated to Moss a smooth haired Collie and she produced a black pup that was named Barb after the black horse, The Barb who won the Melbourne Cup in 1866.

Breeders' Cup Classic

The Classic is considered by many to be the premier thoroughbred horse race of the year in the U.S., and for 2008 only the Dubai World Cup, Japan Cup, Melbourne Cup and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe surpassed its $5 million purse.

Fascinator

They are particularly popular at premium horse-racing events, such as the Grand National, Kentucky Derby and the Melbourne Cup.

Mary Ann Black

Mary Ann de Mestre née Black (1801–1861) was the wife of Prosper de Mestre (1789–1844) a prominent Sydney businessman in the early 19th century; and the mother of Etienne Livingstone de Mestre (1832–1916) the trainer of the racehorse Archer who won the first and second Melbourne Cups in 1861 and 1862, and the foremost Australian horse trainer of his era.

Metrication in Australia

Therefore the Melbourne Cup was changed from 2 miles (about 3,218 m) to 3,200 m.

San Juan Capistrano Handicap

Since 2007, the winner of the San Juan Capistrano has received ballot free entry into Australia's greatest horse race and the staying championship of the world, the Melbourne Cup.

Thomas Reibey

In 1882 he won the Launceston Cup and had just failed to win the Melbourne Cup with Stockwell — he bought Malua as a yearling, which won the Melbourne Cup in 1884.

Tooheys Brewery

Tooheys is the major sponsor of Rugby Union in New South Wales and Queensland, and in 2002 and 2003 was the sponsor of the Melbourne Cup in Victoria.


A.O. Segerberg

Segerberg claimed to have taken the first moving pictures in Australia at the 1896 Melbourne Cup and shown it in the Opera House, Melbourne.

Etienne L. de Mestre

De Mestre won the first two Melbourne Cups with Archer in 1861 and 1862, and later trained a further three winners: Tim Whiffler (1867); Chester (1877); and Calamia (1878).

George Podmore

George Podmore (1925−10 July 2005) was an Australian jockey who was best known for riding Evening Peal to victory in the 1956 Melbourne Cup.

Kenny Smyth

He works at Melbourne's biggest events including the St Kilda Festival, Avalon Airshow and Melbourne Cup.

Larry Olsen

Larry Olsen (born 1948 in Nudgee Beach, Queensland) is an Australian retired jockey and current reporter for Sky News Australia who is best known for riding Kensei to victory in the 1987 Melbourne Cup.

Lee Freedman

Freedman's step towards training stardom came in the 1989 Melbourne Cup, when he trained the first two runners home, winning the race with stayer Tawriffic, ridden by Shane Dye, who was followed home by Super Impose.

Let's Elope

Bred by Highview Stud in Hamilton, New Zealand, Let's Elope was a giant chestnut mare who in 1991 became the first mare in more than 50 years to complete Australia's famed Caulfield Cup - Melbourne Cup double (the "Cups double").

Ryan Phelan

Alongside Sports Tonight, Phelan reported for Network Ten on various other sports events including Clipsal 500, the 2003 US Women's Open, the final Melbourne Cup covered by Ten in 2001 and the 2005 City to Surf.

Tan Chin Nam

He owns at least a share in most of Cummings's well known horses including Think Big, winner of back-to-back Melbourne Cups in 1974 and 1975, as well as the multiple Group One winner, Saintly.


see also

Arwon

Until two years before his death, he took part in the annual Melbourne Cup Parade down Swanston Street, held on Cup Eve (Monday).

Mieke Buchan

SPORTS - Throughout her career Buchan has covered events including the Olympic Games, the US Open, and French Open tennis tournaments (for Tennis Channel), Australian Open Tennis (for Triple M) World Cup Soccer (SBS), the Super Bowl, Formula One, the Red Bull Air Race World Championship (Fox Sports America), the Crown Australian Poker Championship (Aussie Millions), Melbourne Cup Carnival.

San Juan Capistrano Handicap

As of 2008, no San Juan Capistrano winner has made the trip to Flemington for the Melbourne Cup.

Tom Clayton

On 24 March 2004 the presentation whips Clayton was given for his Melbourne Cup wins on Acrasia and Poseidon were sold at Public Auction in Victoria.

Viewed

Following the Melbourne Cup, Viewed failed to break through in four starts during the autumn however these runs included a 4th in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes, 4th in the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes, 2nd in the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes and 3rd in Group 1 The BMW.