General News
14 November, 2024
2024 Melbourne Cup fun and festivities
The 2024 Melbourne Cup raced on Tuesday, November 5, as spectators and punters looked on from around the nation.
Locally, there was no exception: crowds gathered at the Gilgandra Services Club and The Royal Hotel to watch the races live from Flemington racecourse.
Gilgandra Services Club hosted their own gala day in tandem with the Melbourne Cup. Locals were invited to dress their best and come down for a viewing of the races.
Quentin Karaitiana, manager of the Gilgandra Services Club, commented on the event.
“It’s a great day for our community,” he began. “[The] Melbourne Cup is suffering because of online sports betting, where there is no responsible gambling like there is at a club. I thank our members for coming down for a great day.”
A ‘fashion on the field’ competition was held along with a members' lucky draw. Four major prizes were given away in the lucky draw. Jeanette Cruickshank came first in the fashion contest, and Fiona Holswich placed second.
“All entrants received a prize,” said Mr. Karaitiana, “which was well received by everyone in attendance.”
The winner of the Melbourne Cup this year was Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old bay gelding ridden by Robbie Dolan from Ireland, in his first-ever Melbourne Cup. An amazing turnaround for the Irish youth best known for his star appearance on the TV show The Voice.
The prize for first place was $5.21 million. Second, Warp Speed, won $1.1 million. Okita Soushi, in third, won $550,000.
Knight’s Choice was a champion out of left field, paying up to $81 on different betting markets for the win. This was the sixth win of a 23-race career for the bay gelding. Previously, Knight’s Choice’s longest won race was 2000 metres. The Melbourne Cup is 3200 metres, a very long distance for horse racing, considered a test of endurance for horse and rider.
Trained by John Symons and Sheila Laxon, this was the first time an Australian-bred horse has won the Melbourne Cup since 2019. It was also the first race winner for Sheila Laxon since Ethereal won in 2001.
