To ensure the Mudgee and Gulgong community have an opportunity to secure a visit from the 18-carat gold Cup in this milestone year, the Victoria Racing Club (VRC) will open the tender process early for the 2017 Emirates Melbourne Cup Tour with submissions now being accepted.

Since 2003, the revered Melbourne Cup has travelled more than 456,000 kilometers to rural, regional and metropolitan communities across Australia and New Zealand.

“The VRC created the concept of the Emirates Melbourne Cup Tour with the aim to provide communities without easy geographical access to the Melbourne Cup an opportunity to experience the magic of the trophy first-hand,” said VRC Chief Executive Simon Love.  

“We never dreamed that the Tour would evolve into such a significant community event, which 15 years later, continues to grow in popularity.

“We are humbled by the pleasure the Cup provides to people of all ages, and want to ensure that as many communities as possible share the same unique opportunity again this year,” said Mr Love.

In 2016, the $175,000 gold trophy toured 34 destinations, providing schools, councils, hospitals, aged-care facilities and racing clubs with a unique opportunity to host a day of community events and raise valuable funds for local causes. 

Past racing legends also accompany the Cup each year on its epic journey to recount some of the remarkable stories intrinsically linked to the ‘race that stops a nation™’.

While the winner of the first Melbourne Cup in 1861 received a gold watch, today’s three handled ‘loving cup’ is made from 44 pieces of hand-beaten gold sourced from West Wyalong in NSW, and crafted over 200 hours by ABC Bullion. 

Last year the Tour stopped off to visit the gold mine, creating a memorable encounter for residents of the Bland Shire Council.

“It’s remarkable to think that a town the size of West Wyalong is now well and truly on the map, and elevated into the Melbourne Cup history books, through its contribution to this piece of true Australian culture,” said Ray Smith of Bland Shire Council.

“Having the Emirates Melbourne Cup visit our region was a proud moment for our community and one I’m sure will be remembered for many years to come.”

The 2017 Emirates Melbourne Cup Tour welcomes submissions from community groups, councils and racing bodies in rural and regional areas as well as capital cities, with successful destinations to be announced in June.

Each host destination selected makes a commitment to provide memorable and engaging community events involving the Cup for everyone to enjoy. Local fundraising initiatives will also be supported.

The Tour officially commences in July 2017, before the Cup returns to Melbourne for the running of the 157th Emirates Melbourne Cup on the first Tuesday in November.

Tenders to be submitted at melbournecuptour.com.au by 5pm (AEST) on Monday 3 April.