Tens of thousands of racegoers flocked to Flemington Racecourse to celebrate the iconic Melbourne Cup, with many partying into the evening despite cold, wet weather.
Jamie Melham, 29, made history as the first female jockey to complete the Caulfield-Melbourne Cups double by riding Half Yours to victory in the main event Race 7.
Her win is one decade after Michelle Payne became the first female jockey to claim victory at the same event. Close friend Melham did so this year with the help of Ballarat-based father-son training duo Tony and Calvin McEvoy.
The revelry and glamour kicked off early, as hundreds of punters arrived more than six hours before the race that stops the nation to nab the best spots trackside.
Attendance at Flemington for the Cup has steadily increased in recent years, with about 90,000 people through the gates this year, although that’s still below 2003’s record attendance of 122,000 people.
Bright red and bold block colours were popular choices among celebrities and punters alike, with umbrellas one of the most popular – and practical – fashion accessories.
Cup champion Payne led the fashion pack with a short and showstopping bright red dress. She arrived at the racecourse with brother Stevie, who acted as strapper when her horse Prince Of Penzance roared to victory a decade ago.
‘It’s a really special feeling and special moment, to have Stevie here again, it’s just unbelievable,’ she told reporters at Flemington on Tuesday.
Thousands visited Flemington Racecourse on Tuesday for the Melbourne Cup
Attendance for the Melbourne Cup has steadily increased in recent years
Bright red and bold block colours were popular fashion choices this year
Racegoers grabbed a break from the chaos wherever they could
The rain poured down on Melbourne Cup attendees
Melbourne Cup attendees enjoyed a day of fun on Tuesday
Even the poor weather couldn’t damper racegoers’ spirit
Helicopters buzzed overhead ferrying VIP guests to the exclusive Birdcage filled with high-profile guests, sports stars, socialites and titans of industry.
MasterChef judge Melissa Leong wore a bright green long sleeve dress and was impressed by how the crowd played with different textures.
‘For me, when it comes to spring racing it’s all about watching the fashion,’ she said.
Former foreign minister Julie Bishop chose a long orange dress for a busy day of marquee hopping but said wet weather played no part in her outfit choice.
‘Rain, hail or shine, I had the outfit,’ she said.
After easing to start at $9, five-year-old gelding Half Yours produced an explosive finish in the Flemington straight to charge to victory in the 3200m staying test by 2.75 lengths.
Two-time winner Joseph O’Brien’s Irish mare Goodie Two Shoes finished second at $41.
Ciaron Maher’s Middle Earth took third a further 1.5 lengths away at $26, with Chris Waller’s mare River Of Stars fourth at $19. French raider Presage Nocturne failed to flatter in 19th place after being heavily backed into $5.50 favouritism.
Former foreign minister Julie Bishop described many racegoers’ commitment to dressing up ‘rail, hail or shine’
Outfits came apart as attendees faced rain and cold
Popular accessories included umbrellas and raincoats due to the wet weather
Many attendees braved the conditions in the name of fashion
Thousands of attendees were dressed to the nine for the fun day out
Umbrellas were a top accessory this year as rain tumbled down on the crowd
Attendees didn’t let the rain dampen their mood
‘It’s been long enough, 10 years. I had to do it sooner or later,’ Melham said of joining Payne as a Melbourne Cup winner.
‘All week I’ve been thinking about it, been excited, but no feeling can describe what I felt just then – what I’m still feeling.’
Melham steered through several gaps, including one to move past husband Ben Melham on Smokin’ Romans, to secure the win.
‘It’s all the horse. What an absolute tough, legend of a horse,’ Melham said.
‘We ran through the race about 10 or 20 times last night about where I want to be in the race. That was exactly where I wanted to be.
‘I wanted the first wave to go and it did, and we cut the corner and could not script it any better.
‘You need the horse underneath you to do that for you and the gaps were small, but the horse didn’t for a second hesitate.
‘That’s the sort of horse you need in these races.’
Strategic racegoers claimed their plot in the massive crowd
Wet weather caught some attendees off guard
Bold colours were a crowd favourite this year
Thousands visited Flemington Racecourse for the Melbourne Cup
Attendees fought to stay dry in the wet weather
Melham’s relationship with the McEvoys dates back more than 15 years to when she was an up-and-coming jockey in Adelaide, then known as Jamie Kah.
‘I wouldn’t want to do this for anybody else in this industry,’ Melham said, looking at the McEvoys.
‘That was just the best, to do it for you two. You’re now Melbourne Cup-winning trainers.’
The McEvoys played a role in Melham’s move to Victoria, where she became the first jockey – male or female – to ride 100 winners in a Melbourne metropolitan season.
She was suspended by Racing Victoria for five months in 2021 for breaching Covid regulations, and spent several days in an induced coma after a horror fall at Flemington in 2023.
The 29-year-old, who married fellow jockey Ben Melham in January this year, recovered from her fall and fought back to reclaim her place at the top of the game.
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