An Australian racecourse welcomed thousands revellers to the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday with long-suffering Victorians ready to let their hair down after enduring the world’s longest Covid lockdown.
The so-called ‘race that stops a nation’ has been held since 1861 and regularly attracts crowds of more than 100,000, but this year was restricted 10,000 fully-vaccinated people.
The race-goers had a great time celebrating their sixth lockdown, which was held on October 21. It was set up in August to stop the highly infectious Delta virus from spreading.
Officials had promised to lift the lockdowns once double dose vaccinations for people over 16 in Victoria exceeded 70%. Melbourne, the capital of Victoria, has abandoned its zero-Covid approach and embraced one that relies on vaccines in order to keep the number serious Covid-19 infections at bay.
The Flemington Racecourse can accommodate up to 120,000 spectators on major race days, but the 10,000 spectators on Tuesday was a marked improvement on last year when no crowd was allowed because of restrictions in place for the pandemic in 2020.
Cheers! After a thrilling day of racing, punters have taken to the streets. Thousands turned out in Sydney and Melbourne to cheer the horses on for the Melbourne Cup. (Photo: Sydney’s Royal Randwick Racecourse).
Pictured: A woman celebrates during the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday. It was held after Victoria’s longest lockdown, which ended on October 21, 2017.
Tongue and cheek! A Melbourne Cup reveller poses in her high-heeled shoes at Sydney’s Royal Randwick Racecourse.
Sore feet? After a long day at Flemington Racecourse the Melbourne Cup race-goers had their heels removed.
Tuesday’s crowd included Keith Foletti, who has been trackside for 85 out of 87 Melbourne Cups.
He told ABC that he was christened at Melbourne Cup in 1934, when the heavens opened up and he got drenched. “The only years I missed were the year on my honeymoon, and last year when I was with the Covid.
The Melbourne Cup, which was first staged in 1861 and has been run every Tuesday since 1876. The winner horse instantly becomes a household name here.
While the horse Verry Elleegant stormed to victory, in the stands it was slightly less elegant with glamorous race-goers pictured chugging champagne straight out of the bottle as the revellers were keen to kick up their heels amid their newfound freedoms.
While some were drinking in celebration, others were drowning their sorrows after red-hot favourite Incentivise came up short in The coveted $8million race. Cheers to the sound of popping champagne corks once more accompanying the thundering of hooves across the turf.
After the deaths of six horses in the Cup, including Anthony Van Dyck (one of the pre-race favorites last year) and with 500m to go, stricter veterinary checks were instituted.
Pictured: A glamorous barefoot punter dances on the grass at Flemington Racecourse celebrating her big win
Pictured: Two women squirm at the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday while punters enjoy a post pandemic party
Man Down! Thankfully, none of the horses were injured this year, but it is not the same for those who are watching the race trackside.
Racegoers observe as horses parade around the mounting area in advance of race 5, which is the Lexus Melbourne Cup at Flemington Racecourse on November 02/2021 in Melbourne
The champagne was flowing at the Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney. 17,000 screaming Aussies gathered to enjoy the action.
Similar crowds were present at Brisbane’s Eagle Farm Racecourse, which offered its own day of spectacular racing. Australians all over the country gave up their work-from–home tracksuits or dressing gowns for designer dressers.
Australia had been virus-free for most this year, until a third wave, which was triggered in June by the Delta variant of the virus, prompted further extended lockdowns.
The country has seen 173,000 cases and 1,756 death, with 82% of the infections being attributed to Delta wave.
New South Wales reported 173 new cases on Tuesday, compared to 135 a day prior. Victoria had 989 cases, the lowest monthly increase in more than a year. Eight cases were added to the Australian Capital Territory. Other states and territories have either very few or no COVID cases.
Get your bottoms up! Randwick Racecourse had a great Tuesday, with 17,000 attending a big day of racing
Time for a rest: A racer lies down on the grass to take a break after all the action at Flemington
SFlemington Racecourse was a hotbed of piracy. But outside the gates, animal rights activists were chained to a truck that had delivered manure right next to the entrance.
Protesting the recent spate of horse deaths at the Cup, protestors chanted “Nup to The Cup” and police took nine people into custody.
“Would you wear this suit to the slaughterhouse?” One protester, armed with a megaphone, asked racegoers upon arrival.
However, Victorian Racing Minister Martin Pakula declared that the event was a huge success and gave Melbourne a much-needed boost.
Reporters were told by Mr Pakula that the victorians had worked so hard to raise vaccination numbers. This is something that Victorians have earned. It’s a magnificent, glorious Melbourne Cup Day and it means more for the city than it has in a long time.
Tongues are wagging: A man & a woman strike a pose at Sydney’s Royal Randwick Racecourse
Give me the whip!: Trackside at Flemington Racecourse, shenanigans are played out in advance of the Melbourne Cup
All smiles: Two women cheer on horses at Randwick Racecourse in style ahead of the highly anticipated Melbourne Cup
Ladies are happy after a big win at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney.
One happy race-goers strolls around the grounds at the Flemington Racecourse celebrating the day of action
After a long day of celebrations, a group of friends burst into laughter at the Melbourne Cup.
The crowd goes wild! Brisbane scenes were no different. Thousands of punters celebrated a day at Eagle Farm racetrack with a wild celebration.
Victory! Victory!
Sydneysiders soaked up the Spring sun as they watched the Melbourne Cup from Royal Randwick Racecourse
Two punters were very lucky at Melbourne Cup when they hugged and kissed trackside at Sydney’s Royal Randwick Racecourse
Wardrobe malfunction: After a blowout, a group of fashionable ladies band together to fix their high-heeled shoes.
Brae Sokolski & Ozzie Kheir celebrate the Lexus Melbourne Cup victory of #4 Verry Ilgegant after James Mcdonald rode to victory in race 7, which was the Lexus Melbourne Cup at Flemington Racecourse during the 2021 Melbourne Cup Day.
Protesting the recent spate of horse deaths at the Cup, protestors shouted ‘Nup to Cup’ and police took nine people into custody. “Would that suit be worn to the slaughterhouse sir?” One protester arrived armed with a megaphone and asked racegoers if they would wear the suit to the slaughterhouse. Others dressed as characters from Netflix’s ‘Squid Game,’ held signs that read “we gamble with your lives” and “you own the horses.”
One race-goer, who swapped her lockdown tracksuit for a beautiful dress and high heels after months of being locked down, told Sydney Morning Herald that it was a strange feeling to be able to go out and about after having been trapped inside for months.
Bianca Hickey (19 years old) from Sydney’s Neutral Bay, who attended the Royal Randwick action, said that being there with so many people was “a bit strange, I’m sure not to lie”.
“We went all in on socializing and now we do. It’s been hard for a lot my friends and me, she said.
“There is the social anxiety of being kept in prison for three months. Everyone is so socially awkward.”
Pictured: After being released from the longest lockdown in the world, Melbourne Cup was a joyous occasion for the punters.
The force was with this punter at Sydney’s Royal Randwick who dressed up as Darth Vader from Star Wars
They’re off! After Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup, punters can be seen cheering on their horses and congratulating each others.
A trackside kiss for luck Two race-goers are pictured in a loving embrace ahead of the big race at Flemington Racecourse
Wink Wink: Randwick saw 17,000 people arrive at Randwick’s house dressed in full-dress for the big day on Tuesday.
Neil Wilson, president Victoria Racing Club, stated that the Melbourne Cup represented the culmination of six months’ worth of preparation.
As coronavirus cases rose, there was no guarantee that the race would go ahead.
He said that he was enjoying the spirit of the race – people walking along the course with joy in their eyes. It’s a big day in Australia, as every second person watches or listens to the race.
Glamorous race-goers clutching cans at Flemington Racecourse cheer home the horse at the Melbourne Cup
It’s time to celebrate! One Brisbane punter can be seen shouting for joy at Eagle Farm Racecourse
Four friends raise their hands in the air while they pose for a picture at Flemington Racecourse’s Melbourne Cup Day
Place your bets One man celebrates his win at Eagle Farm Race Track in Brisbane on Tuesday
Cheers! On Tuesday, a man held a can in front of the camera at the Eagle Farm Racecourse.
Peace out: Some punters took some time off from a tiring day at the races wearing high heels.
Due to Victoria’s high vaccination coverage, Sharni Taylor, a Melbourne woman, said that she felt safe at the Melbourne Cup with Hayden.
AAP reported that the 27-yearold said he felt confident that there were safe practices.
“We’re all vaccinated.
“I’m getting more comfortable being around people again.” Although it’s still strange, we get used to it quickly.
Winner! One punter celebrates a win at the Sydney races on Tuesday
Perhaps it’s time to get a glass of water? After a long day celebrating this beautiful couple, stop by Flemington Racecourse for a glass of water.
New heights! One woman sat on the chair to get a better view of the $8million race that stops this nation
A pair of mates embrace as they celebrate the race that stops the nation at Sydney’s Royal Randwick Racecourse
Jumping for joy! Thousands turned out in Sydney and Melbourne for the main event to cheer on their friends.
Time for refreshments! Randwick’s action was stopped for a few minutes by a group of girls.
Pictured: Two women pass through the Eagle Farm Racecourse, Brisbane, November 2.
Richard McGann (49 years old) also felt the same feelings.
McGann stated, “Finally opening up was fantastic.”
“This is beautiful…a bit strange, but it feels secure.”
During this time, anti-lockdown protesters wore signs reading ‘Sack Dan Andrews’ and marched through Footscray Park, Melbourne’s west, towards the racecourse.
Today’s announcement by Sydney officials indicated that it will lift COVID-19 curbs earlier than expected next week for vaccinated residents. However, it delayed the freedoms it promised for unvaccinated Sydneysiders in an effort to increase inoculations.
From Nov. 8, vaccinated people living in the harbour city of 5 million will be allowed unlimited guests into their homes.
Pubs and clubs can also accommodate more guests, and reopen the dance floors. This is in addition to changes that were originally intended to be implemented on December 1.
Unvaccinated people will be able to access bars, restaurants, retail stores, non-critical shops, bars, gymnasiums, and other recreational facilities up to Dec. 15, when the double vaccination rate in New South Wales will reach 95%.
Dominic Perrottet, the State Premier, said that he wanted to “open up in a measured fashion and incentivise vaccine rates.”
Nearly 88% have been fully vaccinated. However the first dose vaccination rate is slowing as it nears 94%.
Australia lifted Monday its ban on residents traveling overseas for more than 18 months. It also allowed fully vaccinated international travelers to enter Australia without quarantine.
However, only Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra will be affected initially. Other states or territories will have different timelines for reopening.