Applications to host the Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour officially open

Since the tour’s inception in 2003, the three-handled Cup has travelled far and wide across Australia, with past destinations including Birdsville in central Queensland, Alice Springs in the Northern Territory, The Pilbara in outback Western Australia, Longford in Tasmania and Kangaroo Island in South Australia.

The coveted trophy has also journeyed overseas to destinations as diverse as Seoul in South Korea, York in the United Kingdom, Matamata in New Zealand, County Kildare in Ireland and Tokyo in Japan.

Now in its 21^st year, the tour has travelled more than 900,000 kilometres and visited more than 590 destinations. This includes visiting 392 schools, 323 hospital and aged care centres and participating in over 1,550 community events, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for local fundraising initiatives.

Applications can be made online at MelbourneCupTour.com.au until Wednesday 12 April.

The Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour National Sweep
This important fundraising platform will return as part of the tour to give 24 rural and regional Cup Tour destinations across Australia the opportunity to be allocated a barrier for the 2023 Lexus Melbourne Cup. 

Destination representatives will be flown to Melbourne to watch the Lexus Melbourne Cup live on track at Flemington, with the town which draws the barrier of the Cup-winning horse presented with a cash prize of $50,000 to put towards a community charity of their choice.

Gold Coast in Queensland took home the $50,000 donation last year after Irish stayer Gold Trip stormed home to win the 162^nd Lexus Melbourne Cup, with the money split between the Griffith University Institute for Glycomics and the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Victoria Racing Club (VRC) Chairman Neil Wilson said the tour has become one of the most important community initiatives of the club.

“The Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour gives us a unique opportunity to share the magic of the People’s Cup with communities across Australia and indeed the world,” Mr Wilson said.

“After 20 years, the tour has evolved into such a significant community event and last year we had a record number of applications and every year it just continues to grow in popularity.

“We are humbled by the excitement and joy the Lexus Melbourne Cup brings people of all ages and backgrounds and want to ensure that as many communities as possible can share in the magic of the trophy again this year as part of its annual tour.

“We are also thrilled to once again include the Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour National Sweep in this year’s tour and look forward to supporting local community initiatives.”

Once selected as a tour destination, communities will be supported by the VRC to plan and host a range of memorable community events during the Cup’s visit.

A stable of racing legends will accompany the Cup as Tour Ambassadors and share their unforgettable Melbourne Cup moments.

Applications
Applications can be made online at MelbourneCupTour.com.au until Wednesday 12 April.

Successful 2023 Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour submissions will be announced in June, with the tour officially commencing its journey in July.

Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour Fast Facts

• 2023 marks the 21^st annual Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour, which has seen the coveted trophy travel over 900,000 kilometres and visit more than 590 destinations, allowing local communities to experience the magic of the ‘People’s Cup’ firsthand.
• Each year, the tour celebrates the heroes and stories intrinsically linked to the Victoria Racing Club’s 162-year old Lexus Melbourne Cup race and its contribution to the nation's historical and cultural heritage.
• The 18-carat gold Lexus Melbourne Cup trophy visits various destinations in an effort to unite communities by engaging councils, schools, hospitals, aged-care homes and racing groups in events to raise funds for local causes.
• The Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour first began in 2003, the same year champion mare Makybe Diva won her first of three Melbourne Cups.
• Throughout the tour’s 20-year history the Cup has visited 462 schools, 380 hospital and aged care centres and participated in over 1,964 community events, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for local fundraising initiatives.
• The Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour National Sweep was introduced by the VRC in 2019 as part of the tour and sees 24 rural and regional Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour destinations across Australia allocated a starting gate for the Melbourne Cup.
• Bunyip in regional Victoria was the inaugural winner of the sweep in 2019 after Vow and Declare’s win from barrier 21. The $50,000 was donated to Bunyip and District Community House, a not-for-profit community organisation overseen by a skills-based committee of volunteers.
• In 2020 the bushfire-ravaged community of Kangaroo Island in South Australia took home the $50,000 donation for the Royal Flying Doctors, after Twilight Payment led from start to finish to win the 160th edition of the great race. Inspired by the VRC’s national sweep initiative, Twilight Payment’s owners matched the prize to make the total contribution of $100,000.
• Bendigo and Fosterville won the sweep in 2021 when mare Verry Elleegant stormed home to win the 161^st Lexus Melbourne Cup. The $50,000 donation was put towards Sunshine Bendigo, a not-for-profit community organisation helping families with young children in the Bendigo and Central Victoria area who are experiencing challenging times.