Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON
There is no bigger day in Melbourne than today. You see, the Melbourne Cup is held on the first Tuesday of November and believe me, they aren’t kidding when they say it’s the race that stops a nation. It is a 3200-metre race at Flemington Racecourse, and it is the focus of the whole country.
Whether you are at Flemington or not, whether you are in the corporate marquees or not, whether you are at the Birdcage or not, today is Melbourne’s biggest party.
In 1993, on a wet track, Michael Kinane rode Vintage Crop to victory, a historic moment for the Irish horse because it was the first time in history that the Cup had been won by a European horse.
Yesterday was a slow day, because most people take the day off to convert the Saturday-Sunday-Tuesday segment into a really long weekend, Schools are generally closed on the Monday before Cup Day, and it is the perfect opportunity to study the form guide.
Everyone has an opinion on the prospective winner of the Cup. Me? Er, I wouldn’t know the difference between a thoroughbred and a rocking horse.
So where did I take these photographs? At Flemington, during trackwork? Nope, I shot them on Friday evening, on Flinders Street. The horses in the first frame are just a close-up. Here, below, is the true view of the whole scene.
As you can see, it’s a huge hoarding at Federation Square in central Melbourne. The size of the two passers-by gives you an idea of just how all-encompassing the billboard really is.
Visit the creative team behind That's MyWorld Tuesday.
41 comments:
Ah Flinders Street. Did you know that Matthew Flinders came from Donington which is the next village to where I live in Lincolnshire. Not a lot of people know that! How's that for a random thought?
That's what I love about your blog,David. We get great pictures, share in your adventures, learn something AND have the world's worst punster at the click of a mouse.
Giddyap!
Ah, a horse race, even better than a boxing match! Wish I could be there! Maybe next year...
Sandi
David: That reminds me of how big the Kentucky Derby is over here. thanks for letting us in on this event.
I am glad you posted the second shot. You see, I spent the longest time looking at the first one thinking "Now how DID he do that?" because I know you don't fiddle or tweak your photos (and there is nothing wrong with that, I just know you don't) so I could NOT work out the background or the shiny blue ground.
That'll teach me to read the whole post first. ;0)
An image that is thoroughly bred.
Horses races are awesome unlike watching those dang dogs go after a rabbit at the track. I love the photos, and psst* your blog rocks... just saying!
Two days holiday for a horse race! I'm living in the wrong country and I have never been to a race meeting.
That must really be a HUGE thing over there. Not sure we have anything close to that...not even the superbowl. LOL!
Sounds very exciting. I guess it could be compared to the Super Bowl or World Series? (:
Never be shocked at your unusual photos, that's my motto!
Was a great idea that really was convincing..... at first!
Brilliant!
Great first photo, but why the long faces? (Two can play at your game David!) MH
Great post. Love the photo's.
Take care
Great post! and clever, too. It does look and sound like fun!
You totally amuse me. Your personal interest in things may not be there, but your interest in a story is, so you get the best pictures and have terrific information. A true journalist!
Great!
A great one!
My attitude to soccer exactly!
I can not imagine a sporting event that the entire country stops to celebrate!
Well we'll have a race of our own here in the USA this second Tuesday in November. With much larger stakes than a mere purse.
In light of that, it's sometimes easy to forget that there are other things going on in the world that day!
Thanks for giving us a brief respite!
Whoa.. that's a furlong of a title and neigh I dont think there's one better .. gee or haw ..
How exciting! Imagine getting a holiday for a horse race - that'd never happen here! lol You must check out my "That's My World" this week - I have a feeling you'll recognise the location. ;)
Now that's something I didn't know about Australia! The Melbourne Cup, eh? Thanks, David.
Hm. You just gave me another place and event that I could add to my wish-to-go list! I love horses and would love to see that race.
Great thinking, photo and description of the event :-)
Cor David, I thought that you might have been there with your cameras,lol.
Great post.
That's as good a trick as I have seen in a long time, you had me wondering how you managed to catch all that blue background. *giggle*
Great shots, though!
You sure fooled me! I thought you were going to say you won a bundle on betting.
Cool post. Never been to a horse race. Never had the interest, but maybe one day.... :-)
For a second there I thought the guy in the billboard was Obama...I thought...damn...this is just too crazy!
Oh its cool David thanks for sharing your adventures. TC
Well, photos can lie, can't they. What an interesting "holiday."
That looks like a fun thing to watch!
Wonderful! And just that is, what I envisioned for MyWorld! Turns out it works! ;)
Great info - since I was of course thinking you were riding kangaroos!
Cheers, Klaus
Thanks for an interesting post. I've only been to Melbourne once, and briefly, so I knew nothing of this horse race.
There's a 'horse race' of sorts scheduled for the first Tuesday in November in the U.S. -- our Presidential Election -- and I daresay that the attention of the entire nation will be focused on the outcome.
Very clever first piccie and an interesting post
Honestly, I thought the first photo was for real until i saw the second one. great job.
Great post!
David, I seem to be unique, I have no idea who ran, or won, nor did I check the form guide! Many long years ago I once went to the Caulfield cup, furled umbrella and the lot and won some 5 shillings on Grey Boots for a place. Now that dates me!
Further to our brief repartee: Good God David, anyone so perfect should be cloned, bottled and sold in supermarkets, you'd be an instant hit. Some Multi-national would make a mint and you could build a castle on the royalties!
Happy days, Arija
Now when we here in Finland live autumntime, it's unbeliavable you are in springtime8] Happy carnival to you!
Funny how that corresponded with our own "horse race" here in America. I'm hoping the jockey rides the Dems to victory! :-)
Peace - D
Those are great shots and as always an interesting post.
LOL, I love seeing the great national race through your eyes. Humor and horses, a wonderful combination.
Thanks for sharing your world.
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