VRC Chief Executive Simon Love says the 2015 Melbourne Cup Carnival will be remembered for the composed performance of jockey Michelle Payne—in the saddle and then in front of the cameras.
“Michelle’s remarkable Emirates Melbourne Cup victory has made history and headlines around the world. We hope that her determination will encourage further female participation and provide countless new opportunities for women in racing,” Love said.
Love said Payne’s trailblazing Melbourne Cup victory to beome the first female jockey to win the race riding Prince Of Penzance against arguably the strongest field ever assembled epitomises the egalitarian history of the Cup.
The memorable Melbourne Cup Carnival came to a close with Saturday’s Emirates Stakes Day. A strong crowd of 68,711 witnessed Kerrin McEvoy ride the Murray Baker trained Turn Me Loose to take out the feature race of the day.
Delectation, for trainer Chris Waller and jockey James McDonald, staked a claim for title of world’s best sprinter, winning the highly anticipated Darley Classic.
Throughout the Carnival, 481 horses competed in 37 races, representing an average field size of 13 runners.
The four race cards, offering more than $17 million in prize money, saw 23 individual trainers enjoy victory, and 15 internationally trained horses compete.
The newly named J.B. Cummings Excellence Award went to Darren Weir for his outstanding Melbourne Cup Carnival achievements, and the Ron Hutchinson Excellence Award was won by jockey James McDonald.
On Crown Oaks Day, the curtain closed on the 36-year riding career of 52-year-old Jim Cassidy, who was presented with 1983 and 1997 vintages of Penfolds Grange by VRC Chairman Michael Burn, representing the years of his Melbourne Cup wins on Kiwi and Might and Power.
Broadcast history was made with Channel 7’s online streaming service PLUS7 recording the largest ever live streamed event in Australia.
Seven’s live coverage of the Emirates Melbourne Cup reached 4.4 million viewers around the country, while 342,000 viewers streamed the main race online.
Despite thunderstorms on AAMI Victoria Derby Day and Crown Oaks Day, 313,229 local, interstate and international visitors flocked to the festivities to enjoy the racing, fashion, entertainment and hospitality of the world’s most vibrant racing event.
“Despite some extreme, unseasonal weather and over 52mm of rain, the four Melbourne Cup Carnival racedays were again the four most attended in the country,” Love said.
“The Melbourne Cup Carnival was again a resounding tourism success story. This is Australia’s original major event, and it contributes to the economy like no other.”
Pin & Win—in support of the Starlight Children’s Foundation—offered more than $136,000 of prizes, including a Lexus NX 200t F Sport and one million Skyward Miles from Emirates. While counting continues, Starlight confirmed that over $320,000 has been raised through Pin & Win to brighten the lives of seriously ill children.
