The Victoria Racing Club is inviting towns and cities across Australia and New Zealand to nominate for the chance to play host to the 2015 Emirates Melbourne Cup.

The $175,000, 18-carat gold Emirates Melbourne Cup trophy, affectionately known as the ‘Loving Cup’, will travel across Australia and New Zealand providing communities with the opportunity to experience first-hand the magic of ‘the race that stops a nation’™.

Applications are open to community groups, councils and racing bodies in rural, regional and capital cities, with the VRC set to announce the host destinations for this sought-after sporting prize in June 2015.

Now in its 13th year, the Emirates Melbourne Cup Tour brings communities together in celebration of the iconic trophy’s visit to each destination and the rich 154-year history of the Melbourne Cup.