Have you heard the one about the horse that walks into a bar? Well, on Monday, FOUR horses walked into a casino! Melbourne's Crown Casino to be exact.
And why were they there? It was the 2012 Melbourne Cup Carnival Launch and the magnificent creatures had the important role of delivering trophies for each of the Melbourne Cup Carnival's four feature races - the AAMI Victoria Derby, Emirates Melbourne Cup, Crown Oaks and Emirates Stakes. They did this in spectacular style with the help of racing royalty Kate Waterhouse, leading apprentice jockey Katelyn Mallyon, Flemington trackwork rider Laura Henderson and Myer Fashions on the Field Ambassador Alison Saville.
The launch marks the commencement of Melbourne's iconic annual two-week celebration of racing, fashion, social and business interaction, which last year generated a remarkable $349.1 million in financial stimulus to Victoria and $746.1 million to the national economy.
Channel Seven's glamorous international racing expert, Francesca Cumani, and world-beating jockey Craig Williams, who will ride defending Emirates Melbourne Cup champion Dunaden, imparted personal insights on the race that stops a nation.
Guests who walked the Flemington-pink carpet (other than those FOUR fabulous four-legged friends) included leading trainers Gai Waterhouse and Anthony Cummings; three-time Cup-winning jockey Glen Boss; Myer milliners Richard Nylon and Kerrie Stanley; Myer designer Dom Bagnato; the Face of the Schweppes Flemington Fling, Samantha Downie; Emirates Stakes Day Fashions on the Field Family Ambassador Simone Callahan and the Faces of Emirates Stakes Day Fashions on the Field Ebony and Dario.
And it wouldn't have been a Melbourne Cup Carnival celebration without a champagne toast - in fact a G.H. Mumm Sabrage wherein the bottle is opened with the aid of a slashing sabre. In this instance it was opened by swashbuckling jockey of the moment Glen Boss.
And there is much to celebrate. VRC Chairman Michael Burn announced that the Club would be privileged to welcome The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall to Flemington on Emirates Melbourne Cup Day during their Queen's Jubilee year visit to Victoria.
The Melbourne Cup Carnival commences this coming Saturday 3 November with AAMI Victoria Derby Day at Flemington and continues with Emirates Melbourne Cup Day on Tuesday 6 November, Crown Oaks Day on Thursday 8 November and concludes with Emirates Stakes Day on Saturday 10 November. Giddy up!