Flemington

16 The Cup! The words are shorthand, understood nationally, for the Lexus Melbourne Cup. The Cup has been part of Australian history since 1861 when the New SouthWales horse Archer raced first past the post, beating Victoria’s hero Mormon by an impressive eight lengths. The Cup also means The First Tuesday in November. That day, which can fall on the calendar anywhere from the first to the seventh of the month, is part of Melbourne Cup history – and of Australian legend. It has been The First Tuesday almost without exception, and almost – but not quite – from the start. Archer’s victory and his repeat performance the following year were on a Thursday. Indeed for the first fourteen years, the Cup was held on the opening day of what was called the ‘Spring Meeting’ at Flemington. In 1863, when Banker won in the smallest field (seven) ever to contest the Cup, it was a two-day meeting. The Cup that year was run on a Friday, late in the month. Later writers have assumed that the race was a flop, but at the time it was enjoyed as ‘a great event’ involving a quality field of the best horses in the colony. A ‘large crowd’ of up to 4,000 at Flemington cheered them on. The race then returned to a Thursday. Each year, as a rich handicap with big betting and top horses, it attracted ever-burgeoning crowds. Fashion was king. Cup Day became a holiday long before it was an official one. Banks, shops and government offices simply closed for the afternoon as everyone made their way to Flemington. Then a momentous change took place to Cup Week in 1875. Wollomai won the Cup. He was owned by James Cleeland who had made his pile as licensee of the Albion Hotel in Bourke Street, next door to Kirk’s Bazaar horsemarket where the racing fraternity congregated. Cleeland had used his profits to buy extensive land on Phillip Island near the place officially spelled ‘Cape Woolamai’. His horsewas the first towin theMelbourne Cup on aTuesday – but not yet The First Tuesday. Wollomai’s victory was on Tuesday 9 November, the VRC taking advantage of an official public holiday to celebrate the Prince of Wales’s Birthday. With the Derby on Saturday, the Cup now HOW THE CUP BECAME CUP WEEK BY ANDREW LEMON A STORY FROM THE VAULT