Mt. Wycheproof and its enthusiastic community is set to welcome one of the most recognised sporting trophies in the world on Friday, August 30, 2024.

The community was recently announced as a host destination for the 2024 Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour.

What a launch

The Victoria Racing Club (VRC) hosted a star-studded line up of racing personalities, administrators, and community representatives to formalise the tour last Tuesday. Conducted in the Club Stand Lobby at Flemington Racecourse, with guests arriving alongside a cavalcade of Lexus vehicles, all individually adorned with each host name.

Melbourne Cup winning jockey, Michelle Payne, OAM, officially read the Victorian destinations, including Mt. Wycheproof, to rounds of applause, alongside other formidable tour ambassadors, Corey Brown, Jamie Kah, Glen Boss, Damien Oliver, and Ariane Titmus OAM.

The Cup is set to go Global – visiting 39 locations – with Mt. Wycheproof thrilled to be amongst those selected from 107 impressive and high calibre applications, one of nine host locations in the State of Victoria.

Focus and planning

The Mt. Wycheproof & District Racing Club (Mt. WDRC) in partnership with the Wycheproof Community Resource Centre (WCRC), looks forward to showcasing the community on a global scale with the original submission focus predominantly centred around the following:

1. Raising Recognition & Awareness of the People’s Cup.

2. Providing Future Vision that the Mt. WDRC and racing have a solid future presence in the community, especially in light of “Derby Day in the Country” being impacted by years of varied hindrance including;

• 2020, COVID, no Cup Day held.
• 2021, COVID, Cup Day occurred, no racing fans permitted.
• 2022, Flood impacted, Cup Day cancelled.
• 2023, Cup Day returns to much acclaim and fabulous crowds, racing under way, abandoned due to track issues pre-staging of the Cup.
• 2024, a re-building phase and Cup launch as part of the tour.

3. Celebrating the Mount Wycheproof Community, Heroes of the Bush young, old, and emerging, from across the Buloke Shire. Whilst in 2024 Mt. Wycheproof will recognise and celebrate 150 years of the township too.

“Mt Wycheproof is celebrating 150-years of township this year, and what a fitting year to host the Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour”, said Jackie Noonan, Volunteer Committee Member, Mt. WDRC.

“We look forward to welcoming the Cup in August to celebrate our strong local racing community.

“The Cup” last visited Mt. Wycheproof in 2009, and this occasion is still very much referenced and talked about fondly today. A new generation is now set to experience the incredible presence of “The People’s Cup”, one of uniting a community.

At the launch, Des Gleeson (former Racing Victoria Chief Steward) met up with Mervyn Keane. Des recalled proudly his last visit to Mt. Wycheproof, highlighting being impressed with the Men’s Shed operation, cult horse “Subzero’s unplanned hospital visit (indoors), and climbing Mount Wycheproof.

The sweep

Since 2019 a national sweep has occurred where starting barriers are allocated to the rural and regional destinations across Australia.The town which draws the barrier of the Cup-winning horse is then presented with a $50,000 cash prize to put towards a registered charity of the community’s choice – in this case The Wycheproof Community Resource Centre.

The activities and essential services provided by the Centre showcase an active community, it is a unique and vibrant “hub” on Broadway and would undoubtedly invest any funds attained into worthy local causes. Fingers crossed.

What’s next?

The original submission document will be consolidated and refined before a community meeting is hosted to gauge further complementary suggestions and ideas, with the aim being to release a formalised community tour schedule in early July. Needless to say, there will be a few surprises in store too, alongside special guest appearances. Relevant information will be relayed via local newspaper mastheads and social media platforms.

For more information about The Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour destinations in 2024 visit melbournecuptour.com.au

This article appeared in  The Buloke Times, 7 June 2024.