Geelong18 Aug 2010
Tour ambassadors, Jim Johnson and Roy Higgins, sign books for fans in Geelong
Following a late night cruising with Sydney’s fashion, business and sporting elite, the Cup returned to its home state for a visit to Geelong today, Wednesday, 18 August.
The Cup’s visit to Geelong aimed to acknowledge the town’s connection to the ‘race that stops a nation’ TM, including local winner, Mr James Wilson Sr, Melbourne Cup winning owner and trainer, and Mr Peter St Albans, Melbourne Cup winning jockey, who shared victory in 1876 with local champion, Briseis.
Today, two-time Geelong Cup and three-time Melbourne Cup winning jockey, Mr Jim Johnson, and dual Melbourne Cup winner, Mr Roy Higgins, accompanied the 2010 Emirates Melbourne Cup as Ambassadors and entertained guests at each event with their memories of the experiences.
Firstly, the racing legends Roy Higgins and Jim Johnson were greeted by a long line of eager fans at Borders Geelong, where keen race goers were treated to signed copies of the recently released The Story of the Melbourne Cup: Australia’s Greatest Race, and photos with the iconic trophy.
The Tour entourage then ventured to Maryville Aged Care home where Geelong’s senior citizens and their families were thrilled to see and share stories with their favourite racing stars.
To the delight and envy of the Tour crew, one of the residents, 97 year-old Mrs Mary Treloar, had spent the evening with the legendary Phar Lap when he was secretly whisked away to the local St Albans stud on the eve of his 1930 Melbourne Cup win.
The Tour visit to Geelong was topped off with an exclusive event hosted by the Geelong Thoroughbred Club, where 150 guests witnessed a magician mysteriously make the coveted trophy appear from thin air – a first for the history books!
VRC Board Director, Amanda Elliott, provided the audience with an insight into the 150th Melbourne Cup celebrations, whilst Mr Greg Carpenter, Chief handicapper at RVL, and Mr Brian Jenkins, Melbourne Cup winning trainer with Jezabeel (1998), joined Tour Ambassadors for an entertaining Q&A segment.
After a delicious three-course spread, guests were offered the chance to don the white glove and take photos with the Cup before it returned safely to Flemington for a good night’s rest.
1:30pm – 2:30pm: 150th Melbourne Cup Book signing - Borders Geelong, Shop MM2, Westfield Geelong, 95 Malop Street
3:00pm – 4:30pm: Visit nursing home / hospital
6:30pm – 11:00pm: Geelong Thoroughbred Club Event
*Please note that the above details may change closer to or on the day of the event
