James McDonald after winning the Lexus Melbourne Cup aboard Verry Elleegant (NZ) at Flemington Racecourse on November 02, 2021 in Flemington, Australia. (Scott Barbour/Racing Photos)
In an ambitious move, the Victoria Racing Club (VRC) announced that the Melbourne Cup, widely recognized as “the race that stops a nation,” will visit 41 locations across seven countries for this year’s Cup Tour.
Destinations will span Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Hong Kong, and Japan.
Iconic seaside towns Port Fairy and Queenscliff are set to feature in the Victorian leg, while other Australian towns like Thargomindah in Queensland and Pinjarra in Western Australia will also host the Cup.
VRC Chairman Neil Wilson remarked on the overwhelming interest for this year’s tour, saying, “This year we are very pleased to take the iconic trophy far and wide across Australia and to the most overseas locations of any tour, reflecting the international interest in the Lexus Melbourne Cup.”
The Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour has not only brought the trophy closer to communities, reaching over 590 of them since its inception, but also has contributed significantly to charity and local initiatives by raising hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The tour’s role extends beyond creating early interest for the race—it has also spurred tourism for Victoria, with the Melbourne Cup Carnival delivering a whopping $422 million in gross economic benefit to its home state in 2022.
“Another benefit of the Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour is driving visitation to Victoria for the Melbourne Cup Carnival. We can’t wait for the 21st edition of the Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour to begin.” Neil Wilson added.
This tour is set to underscore the global appeal and reach of this legendary racing event.
Melbourne Cup Tour 2023
Victoria – Melbourne, Port Fairy/Koroit, Ballarat, Macedon, Bendigo, Boort, Nagambie, Queenscliff;
New South Wales – Sydney, Hillston, Maitland, Coffs Coast, Orange;
South Australia – Adelaide, Balaklava, Port Augusta, Quorn, Kangaroo Island;
Western Australia – Perth, Pinjarra, Broome;
Australian Capital Territory – Canberra;
Queensland – Brisbane, Gold Coast, Boulia, Thargomindah, Cunnamulla, Cairns, Mount Isa;
Tasmania – Launceston, Deloraine;
Northern Territory – Darwin; and
International – York (UK), Cambridge (NZ), Auckland (NZ), London (UK), Hong Kong (HK), Tokyo (Japan), Hokkaido (Japan), Country Kildare (Ireland), Deauville (France).