Narelle and I ready to head off to the races
My pre-hat photo shoot of Dan's stylish do
Up under the exquisite hat Narelle lent me
The horses came through this gate to enter the racecourse
Our seats (grass) were just off the racecourse - prime viewing!
Where everyone gives their money away
Mad cheering for the actual Melbourne Cup race
A lucky encounter with Phill
Joe, Tom, Brendon, Dan, Jade at Il Primo's on Lygon St
The day the nations stops. Tuesday was a National Holiday in honor of The Melbourne Cup. There's a month of racing leading up to this day and two races that follow this day, but for some reason, Tuesday is THE day. The races started at 10AM and were still going when we left around 5PM that night. The actual Melbourne Cup race occurs at 2PM. All other races before and after that are not as highly regarded.
People get dressed to the nines for the horse races - suits for the men and dresses for the ladies. Accessories are essential including either a large brimmed hat or a fascinator (the fancy feather headpieces). Everyone drinks plastic bottles of champagne, which starts off seeming very classy and turns rather sloppy later in the day. The races were great fun to watch especially after placing a whopping $5 bet on #13 Laser Sharp to win The Cup. He failed me though and did not even place. Narelle backed the winning horse, #6 Efficient, so at least we had something to celebrate!
Among a crowd of 130,000, I somehow managed to run into my old flatmate Phill. I did not even know he was back from Perth, let alone attending the races. What are the odds we would actually have a chance encounter? Amazing!
That evening Dan, Brendan, Joe, Narelle, Robyn (Dan's mom), and I headed to Lygon St to Il Primo, where Jade and Tom were working their first shift together. Staff mingling with the tables? Tables kissing and hugging the staff? Yep.
