RACING legend John Letts will accompany the $200,000 Melbourne Cup to Bathurst next month as part of its 15th annual tour of Australia and New Zealand.
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Bathurst Thoroughbred Racing general manager Michelle Tarpenning said the local racing community was looking forward to welcoming the Cup and the champ to town on Monday, July 3.
“Horse racing and the Emirates Melbourne Cup will always be meaningful to the people of Bathurst,” Ms Tarpenning said.
“Not only do we have direct links to 1866 Melbourne Cup winner, The Barb who was stabled and trained in Bathurst but, as a gold rush town, the race course was a neutral meeting place for colonists of all classes.”
While in Bathurst, the 18-carat gold Cup will engage in a number of activities including a special ceremony and mayoral reception at Kings Parade in the centre of town at noon.
As well as a presentation from Letts, who twice won the Melbourne Cup as a jockey on Piping Lane (1972) and Beldale Ball (1980), the ceremony will provide an opportunity for members of the public to get their photo taken with the iconic trophy.
The public will be encouraged to upload their photos with the Cup to Facebook – #PeoplesCup and #EmiratesMelbourneCup – for the chance to win a trip for two to Flemington for the 2017 Emirates Melbourne Cup.