Broome selected to host 2016 Emirates Melbourne Cup Tour

Written on the 8 June 2016

The 2016 Emirates Melbourne Cup Tour officially broke out of the barriers today with the Victoria Racing Club  (VRC)  announcing that Broome has been selected to host the iconic 18-carat gold trophy.

The announcement was held at Darren Weir's stables in Ballarat, the heartland of the 2015 Emirates Melbourne Cup winning trainer.

The 2016 Tour will see the $175,000 trophy travel to 34 towns and cities across Australia and New Zealand, before returning to Flemington for the 'race that stops a nation' on the first
Tuesday in November.

Broome  was  chosen  to  host  the  Tour  for  the  commitment made  by  the  Broome  Tourism Center  to provide  a  comprehensive schedule of activities for the entire community to enjoy
while the Cup is in town.

Broome Visitors Center General Manager, Nick Linton, said being part of the Tour will be an unforgettable experience that will unite community members as they play host to Australia's
most famous trophy.

"We  see  this  visit  from  the  Emirates  Melbourne  Cup  as  an  opportunity  for  residents  and visitors of Broome to experience the iconic Australian race first hand," said Mr Linton.

"Although we are isolated by geography in Broome, we are connected to the rest of our nation through our love of one of the world's greatest sporting events."

Racing  royalty  joined  the  celebrations,  including  2015  Emirates  Melbourne  Cup  winning trainer Darren Weir and strapper Stevie  Payne,  2015 Emirates Melbourne Cup winning horse Prince of Penzance and Flemington Ambassador Georgia Connolly in attendance.

For the first  time the 'People's Cup' has been  manufactured using gold mined from West Wyalong  in regional NSW,  a destination of this year's Tour,  and the launch welcomed  the
Cup's new manufacturer ABC Bullion to the Flemington family.

VRC Chief Executive, Mr Simon Love,  said  this year the Tour will celebrate a  heightened enthusiasm  for racing  amongst  community groups far and wide  following Michelle Payne's
triumphant Emirates Melbourne Cup victory in 2015.

"Since the Tour began in 2003, we have delighted in bringing communities together in the shared history and magic of the Emirates Melbourne Cup  and Michelle's victory last year
certainly adds another dimension to those narratives," Mr Love said.

"Hearing the many tales,  from  triumphs to tears and everything in between,  as people recount their own  unique experiences of one of the world's greatest sporting events,  is a joy for all
involved.

Since its inaugural year, the Tour has travelled more than 456,000 kilometres  and visited more than 333 regional, rural and metropolitan destinations, providing communities with a
once-in-a-life opportunity to experience firsthand the magic of the Emirates Melbourne Cup.

Community members are encouraged to upload photos with the Cup to Instagram, using the hashtags #PeoplesCup and #EmiratesMelbourneCup, for the chance to win a trip for two to
Flemington for the running of the 2016 Emirates Melbourne Cup.

TOUR ITINERARY:
Date  Destination
July 3  Streaky Bay, SA
July 5  Roxby Downs, SA
July 8  Ballarat, VIC
July 12  Warrumbungle, NSW
July 14  West Wyalong, NSW
July 16  Tuncurry/Great Lakes, NSW
July 18  Auckland, NZ
July 21  Palmerston North, NZ
July 23  Hawkes Bay, NZ
July 26  Brisbane, QLD
July 27  Toowoomba, QLD
July 29  Blackall, QLD
July 31  Monto and Eidsvold, QLD
August 8  Bunbury, WA
August 9-10  Perth, WA
August 12-13  Broome, WA
August 23  Narromine, NSW
August 25  Mungindi, NSW
August 28-30  Sydney, NSW
September 2  Adelaide, SA
September 4  Kadina, SA
September 9  Gold Coast, QLD
September 11  Whitsundays, QLD
September 14  Croydon, QLD
September 21  Kyabram, VIC
September 24-25  Nagambie, VIC
October 5  Kilmore, VIC
October 9  Ulverstone, TAS
October 12  Hamilton, VIC
October 14  Warrnambool, VIC
October 15  Wodonga, VIC
October 19  Geelong, VIC
October 20  Pakenham, VIC
October 18 October 31  Melbourne, VIC
November 1  Emirates Melbourne Cup Day, VIC