The Victoria Racing Club (VRC) has unveiled the 36 destinations for the 2025 Melbourne Cup Tour at
a special launch event staged at Flemington Racecourse.
The trophy will initially be showcased at the Belmont Gold Cup meeting in New York in early June,
before returning home for an expansive journey around Australia.
The tour includes visits to several Australian towns which have recently experienced severe flood
and drought events that devastated the local communities.
The ‘National Sweep’ will once again form part of the trophy tour this year and features 24 rural and
regional destinations on its itinerary.
Each one will be allocated a barrier in ‘the race that stops the nation’ giving them the chance to win
$50,000 for a charity of their choice.
VRC’s chief executive officer Kylie Rogers says the tour is an integral part of the Melbourne Cup and
expressed her gratitude to sponsors Lexus for supporting the initiative.
“The Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour is one of the most significant ways we can share the excitement and
legacy of the Lexus Melbourne Cup with communities across Australia and beyond,” Rogers said.
“We’re also proud of how the Cup continues to reach and inspire the next generation – through
visits to schools and engagement with young Australians, we’re ensuring the story and spirit of the
Melbourne Cup lives on for years to come.”
“Thank you to Lexus for their continued support of the Tour, their partnership plays a vital role in
bringing the magic of the Lexus Melbourne Cup to so many people and places.”
Aside from the allure of the prestigious trophy, the Melbourne Cup is renowned not only for its rich
history but also for the significant Melbourne Cup betting activity it attracts each year. The sizeable
wagering turnover generated in the lead-up to the race reflects its global appeal.
In fact, several established and emerging Australian betting sites began offering odds on the next
edition just days after the 2024 race concluded—further proof of the event’s enduring popularity.
As noted by sportsbook comparison website AustralianBettingSites.net.au, the number of
bookmakers in Australia has grown exponentially in recent years.
They heavily promote the Melbourne Cup, as they recognise its status as one of the most iconic
events in Australia’s annual sporting calendar.
Aussie sportsbook operators have been forced to make some sizeable payouts in recent years, with
several fancied runners adding their names to the Melbourne Cup roll of honour.
However, they had the upper hand in 2024 when rank outsider Knight’s Choice defied his lengthy
odds to win the race under jockey Robbie Dolan.
The VRC invited Dolan back to Flemington to be part of the cup tour launch and share his experience
of guiding his horse to victory last November.
“It’s amazing to be back here,” Dolan said. “It brings back so many memories, walking into the place
and envisioning that moment when I hugged my father after I got off Knight’s Choice on that day.
“Walking down the arches here with my family after winning the Melbourne Cup is a memory that
will stick with me for the rest of my life.
“I’m looking forward to getting to the outback in a sense and bringing the cup out there. I know first-
hand what it means to people. I’ve had plenty of people just come up to me and just get emotional
over its significance.
“I’m really looking forward to getting out there and it’s going to be brilliant – the Lexus Melbourne
Cup tour is a historic thing and it’s been going on for a long time.”
The betting market for this year’s Melbourne Cup, which will be held on the first Tuesday in
November at Flemington, has been taking shape over the past few weeks.
Vauban is one of the bookmakers’ early favourites for the race despite failing to live up to
expectations on his previous two attempts at Flemington.
Sir Delius, Byzantine Dream, Buckaroo and Goliath are among a plethora of other horses who could
be genuine contenders to win the 2025 Melbourne Cup.
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