Skipton Primary School students get their first look at the Melbourne Cup. PICTURE: JEREMY BANNISTER
THE $175,000 trophy for the race that stops the nation came to Skipton yesterday, as part of a three month tour across Australia and New Zealand.
The Victoria Racing Club selected Skipton to host the Melbourne Cup as part of its policy to build community spirit and celebrate grassroots racing.
The 18-carat gold cup was taken for morning tea at the Mooramong Historical Homestead before visiting students at Skipton Primary School and taking a ride on a Skipton CFA fire truck.
The tour party, which included cup winning trainer Mick Robins, jockey Jim Johnson and veteran race caller John Russell, also visited the Skipton Hospital and the Skipton Mechanics Hall for a cocktail party.
VRC tour president Dr Andrew Lemon said the Melbourne Cup had been vita in “shaping the sporting, social and cultural fabric of our nation”.
