There’ll be no crowds to cheer the horses along at Flemington tomorrow, no car park breakfasts, boot parties or racegoers stumbling home when it’s all done, high-heels in hand and shirts untucked.
But racing fans in Melbourne say they are determined to still enjoy Australia’s most famous horse race, even if COVID restrictions mean their celebrations need to look a little different this year.
Angela Menz has been at Flemington with her dad on the first Tuesday of November for the past 14 years.
Racing is a passion she’s inherited.
“My dad and his side of the family are super into horse racing so I can’t imagine not having horse racing around in some sort of way,” Angela says.
And the milliner and fashion designer goes all out to enjoy the day each year.
This year fans won’t be allowed at the track because of COVID restrictions, and travel bans mean Angela won’t be with her dad for the race that stops a nation.
A year to celebrate the Cup at home
Melburnians can have one other household as guests to their house to enjoy the Cup and can meet in groups of up to 10 people in parks.
Angela has decided to decorate her house and enjoy the day at home.
She does have a mask to match her outfit but more than anything, just wants to enjoy the day.
“I think during this whole time, for me you can choose to sit at home and be miserable or you can just go ‘Oh well, things are what they are’ and just make the most of it,” she says.
It’s time to get out of our activewear and enjoy dressing up
The Spring Racing Carnival is usually the busiest time of the year for milliner Wendy Scully.
Wendy still has some orders this year from racing fans in Melbourne and London who have purchased hats online.
She says she has been making “amazingly crazy” 1960s-inspired ring hats this season.
“They call them back sitting hats, they are technically a 50s Jackie O style,” she says.
She says one hat has about 800 feathers on it.
The master milliner says after months in lockdown trackies, it is time for Melburnians to enjoy dressing up, even if it is for a celebration at home or in a park.
Pubs open just in time for Cup
For pub owner Sam Tresise, Melbourne Cup is usually a “huge event” each year.
His pub, Bells Hotel in South Melbourne, has hosted the Cup visit in the past and it usually invites jockeys down to speak and organises pony rides for children.
This year things will look a little different.
COVID dining limits will cap the number of guests his pub can host for the Cup, but he says he is lucky to have a lot of outdoor space where up to 50 people are allowed under the state’s COVID guidelines.
This year he’s planning a mini “birdcage experience” for racing fans.
Sam says for Melburnians coming out of lockdown, this is a special time.
“Just opening up for spring carnival and people being able to smell the roses and taste the fresh air, there is a real buzz in Melbourne at the moment.”
