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Beyond Jamie Melham’s historic Melbourne Cup victory, it’s been a day of punting, fashion, fun and frivolity at Flemington.
Here is a look back at the best images our photographers have snapped trackside.
Thanks so much for joining us today as Jamie Melham made history riding Half Yours to victory in the Melbourne Cup and becoming the second female jockey to win the race.
We will have more racing coverage in the days to come as the carnival continues, so please keep checking our website.
A warm thanks to everyone who contributed to this blog, as it takes an army of people to drive it for such a long day.
Please have a lovely evening. Bye for now.
Six years ago, Tony McEvoy surprised his son Calvin by announcing he had been promoted to co-trainer in the family business.
Now he says Calvin is “probably the best colt in my stable”.
On Tuesday, their gelding Half Yours – one of the favourites – blitzed a field of internationals and imports to win the Melbourne Cup, with Jamie Melham aboard.
By completing the Caulfield-Melbourne Cup double, the father-son training team etched their names into racing history, alongside that of Tony’s nephew, Kerrin McEvoy, a three-time winner of the Melbourne Cup as a jockey.
Jye McNeil has been suspended for 18 meetings for causing interference at the 2500-metre mark of the Melbourne Cup after his mount Valiant King collided with Presage Nocturne and Vauban as the trio jostled for position going down the straight for the first time.
Valiant King nearly toppled, and Presage Nocturne was never a chance, with both horses finishing the race in the back third of the field.
The suspension was heavier than normal under rules increasing penalties for jockeys who cause interference in feature races.
Jamie Melham had to outmanoeuvre her jockey husband Ben in a seesawing Melbourne Cup field before she found a crucial gap that allowed her to ride to glory.
The first woman to land the Caulfield-Melbourne Cup double revealed she was on the verge of screaming at her partner to get out of her road as she loomed up behind his tiring mount, Smokin’ Romans, at the top of the famous Flemington straight.
But her brave Australian-bred galloper Half Yours took the decision out of her hands, ducking to the inside through the narrowest of gaps and pushing her husband aside. From then on, the race was hers.
Beyond Jamie Melham’s historic Melbourne Cup victory, it’s been a day of punting, fashion, fun and frivolity at Flemington.
Here is a look back at the best images our photographers have snapped trackside.
Source: Racing Victoria
It wouldn’t be the end of a Melbourne Cup race day without witnessing a few people who have had slightly too much fun.
It was easy to spot the odd person stumbling home drunk — or perhaps making their way to the next venue.
But it’s safe to say that things have subdued a bit over the years.
Flemington is always packed for Cup Day and today was no different – the crowd numbered 84,374 people.
Here are some more pictures of trackside fun and frivolity.
UPDATED: With the day of racing done and dusted, most punters have started their journey home from Flemington.
But for some — it’s now time to cut loose.
The dance floor is filling up at The Elms live stage, where dance music trio PNAU are on stage.
Birds were something of a theme this year. Aluk Khalil’s millinery – designed by Felicity Northeast – also honoured flying creatures, namely their flight patterns and paths, which change according to the currents.
“The direction of feathers mimics the V flight formations slicing the air,” Northeast said of her white-and-pink textured design. “The oval layers of braid echo circular paths like a falcon, perhaps working from a race-stand rooftop, deterring seagulls.”
But despite the extravaganza at Fashions on the Field this year, it was one simple flower that clinched the win.
The victor of the millinery competition, a Moore Millinery design, featured a simple blue flower, joined by a baby-pink bow that defied gravity.
Amid extreme abundance, it was still simplicity and attention to detail that reigned supreme.