The Day Which Stops A Nation

Merv picking horses from his hat

My brother and his wife live in South Australia and they own and race their horses.  I know nothing about race horses or racing them but I do know the second Tuesday in November is always Melbourne Cup Day.  The state of Victoria always has a public holiday to celebrate.  The race is held at Flemington and is firstly about the Cup but also the fashion and even the magnificent roses!  The rest of Australia hold their own parties at pubs, their own racecourse or arrange office lunches with the TV in the corner.  Perth had a record attendance at our own Ascot Racing Course today.

 Everyone dresses up and the ladies compete in wearing the best and often outrageous hat or fascinator.  Fashion features throughout the day at Flemington.  

Damien Oliver Jockey winning his 3rd Melbourne Cup
 

Mel was born in 1979 on Melbourne Cup Day.  Her birthday has fallen on this all important day many times.
We  have stopped celebrating at the local pub but I wanted to make it special for Merv.   I printed the list of horses and cut them into individual strips.  Merv folded them and put them in a hat drawing them out and dividing them into 2 piles.  His horses and mine!  He was happy he had drawn Damien Oliver's horse Firorente.
Damien is a well known jockey in Australia, he comes from a jockey family.  His father died during a race when he was a young boy and his brother Jason died the same way in 2002 a week before the Melbourne Cup Race.  A film called, 'The Cup' was made about Damien's dilemma whether to race in the cup of that year on Media Puzzle.  We watched the film at the movies a couple of years ago and again last night on TV.  It finishes with Damien riding Media Puzzle and winning the race for his brother.  This was the second time he had won the prestigious Melbourne Cup.


Gai Waterhouse, Horse Trainer with her 1st Melbourne Cup Win

Today I made strawberry cocktails served with chocolates and put together warm chicken rolls for lunch.  We sat glued to the TV at 12noon as the race took place in Melbourne.  I didn't give much thought to the horses and their riders, I just enjoyed the pleasure of watching.  The race lasts just over three minutes and right before our eyes Damien spurred Fiorente at the last moment and won the race!  I had a tear in my eye.  He is the only jockey I know anything about!  To top off the fairy tale finish the horse trainer is Gai Waterhouse.  Gai, a vivacious, hard working trainer and she is often in the news. Until today the 'big one' had always eluded her.  A double celebration!
Another year, another winner.  History was made today and I am glad Merv and I were together to witness it.