7 August 2011

Bracing itself for the long travel day ahead, the 2011 Emirates Melbourne Cup set off for its adventure to Tara in the early hours of the morning. 

After a long 935 kilometre journey, the Tour party finally arrived in Tara, a town with a population of 960 people in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, to honour a milestone event for the Tara Race Club, its 100th year in operation. 

Coinciding the 2011 Emirates Melbourne Cup Tour’s visit with Tara’s Festival of Culture and Camel Races worked to attract more than 4,000 people to the events hosted as part of the trophy’s visit.

From bookies and sand castle sculptures to camel trainers and jockeys to ladies adorned in flowers on stilts, there were some sights to see during the Cup’s visit to Tara!

Featuring at a Wine & Cheese night, crowds flocked to see the coveted trophy putting smiles from ear to ear on everyone’s faces as they realised that they could hold the Cup for a snap and meet Tour Ambassador, John Marshall.

On Sunday, the Tour party received a warm welcome at Tarcoola Retirement Villages with sing-alongs and morning tea, before making a second appearance at the Camel Races.

Impressed by the array of entertainment and cultural displays on show at the festival, the Tour party fully embraced the spirit of the outback.

From John Marshall mounting camels, the tour party participating in Calcutta’s for camels and yabbie races, jockey silk judging and building sand castles to commemorate the Cup’s visit, the Tour’s stop in Tara was a memorable adventure.

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

Photo: Local bookie with the 2011 Emirates Melbourne Cup at Tara Camel Races