19 August 2011

Today, the 2011 Emirates Melbourne Cup Tour crew woke up to a chilly morning in the riverside township of York, a charming town in the heart of the wheatbelt region celebrating more than 160 years of racing.
Fully embracing the Tour’s appearance in town, the York Shire President, Pat Hopper escorted the Tour team to it’s jam-packed day of celebratory events.

Starting out with a visit to York District High School, the Tour enjoyed a novel student assembly featuring a special Melbourne Cup themed performance of Cinderella!

The iconic Cup and John Letts’ stories put smile on the residents and patients faces at York Nursing Home, the hospital and Balladong Retirement Estate.

Treated like a celebrity, the Cup got on board a vintage cart led by two magnificent Clydesdales to join the local pony club, bagpipe band, cadets, emergency services and classic cars for a parade where crowds lined the street to welcome the trophy to town.

Culminating at York Town Hall, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary, the community gathered to take photos with the trophy against the scenic backdrop of York’s famous heritage listed buildings.

York’s award-winning Country Women’s Association lived up to its name with a fantastic afternoon tea before the Cup visited the York Racecourse, which held its first race meeting in 1849.

In the evening, the Shire or York literally rolled out the red carpet at the Town Hall to host the Cup at a beautiful cocktail party where the township gathered in their racing best to raise money for community group 1st York Scouts.

In York, a brilliant day was had by all!

To view further images of the EMCT and track the Tour’s progress, visit our Facebook page, Flemington: Home of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

Photo: Members of the York Pony Club outside the beautiful 100 year old York Town Hall, the end point for the fantastic York community street parade.