THE Victoria Racing Club launched its 2016 Melbourne Cup Carnival in The Park at Flemington among dancers, fine food, drinks, a vintage Ferris wheel and carousel creating an endless playground of excitement and colour on Monday.
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The Park, which is Flemington’s newest fashion and entertainment spot, has a footprint of 10,000 square metres and is free for all racegoers combining the excitement of world-class racing with an energetic mix of fun, irresistible delights and endless possibility.
The Victorian Minister for Racing, the Honorable Martin Pakula, was on hand to declare The Park and the 2016 Melbourne Cup Carnival officially open.
Leading contenders for the Carnival’s eight Group 1 races, including jockey Dwayne Dunn and trainers Ciaron Maher and Matt Cumani, gave guests a great insight into their chances in various races.
Among the stars attending the launch was actor Rachel Griffiths, who is currently filming a movie based on the story of jockey Michelle Payne’s history-making 2015 Emirates Melbourne Cup victory, riding the Darren Weir-trained Prince of Penzance.
Ticket sales are up on the same time last year, with more than 310,000 racegoers expected to attend the four days at Flemington, which last year injected $387.8 million into the Victorian economy.
More than $18 million in prize money will be won by connections, with $6.2 million on offer in the Emirates Melbourne Cup, the world’s richest handicap.
