14 October

Beginning its day on the Limestone Coast, the Tour ventured to Port MacDonnell, a quaint seaside town known for its rock lobsters, where the Cup joined the District Council of Grant for its school holiday children’s programs.

Throughout the day, the 2011 Emirates Melbourne Cup was paired with its 1911 counterpart, the beautiful trophy won by local horse, The Parisian, in the race one-hundred years ago.

Fittingly, the 1911 trophy joined the Tour for much of the day’s events, chaperoned by two generations of the local Kirby family, who owned The Parisian when he won the great race.

In Mount Gambier, the Tour party refuelled at a community BBQ hosted by Emirates Melbourne Cup Tour supporting partner, NAB in its Commercial Street branch, before visiting the residents of Woodlands Grove Retirement Village, each of whom were eager to share racing memories with Tour Ambassador and former VRC Stipendiary Steward, Mr Des Gleeson.

The evening’s events included a visit to the Mount Gambier library, where both Des and John Kirby (The Parisian, 1911) reflected on their Melbourne Cup connections to an enthusiastic crowd.

Alongside the 1911 Melbourne Cup, the Kirby family had also brought along some beautiful artwork from The Parisian’s successes, family heirlooms which the Tour party were very excited to have as part of the event.

Following a great day in Mount Gambier it was time for bed, ready for tomorrow’s events in nearby historic town, Penola.