Wild scenes as glammed up Melbourne Cup revellers kick off their heels and let loose long after the race that stops the nation
More than 90,000 revellers have flocked out of Flemington Racecourse following another Melbourne Cup Day.
The mood was high and the booze was flowing for the thousands of attendees of the iconic race, won by rank outsider Knight’s Choice.
Racegoers were dressed to the nines as they trickled through the gates of the prestigious racecourse from 8.30am on Tuesday.
As the last race of the day finished shortly after 5.15pm, thousands of revellers began making their way home or to hit the town .
Some attendees were spotted tripping over their high heels, while others completely abandoned their footwear and opted to go barefoot.
More than 90,000 revellers flocked to Flemington Racecourse on Tuesday to celebrate the Melbourne Cup
Revellers soaked up the sun and partied hard well into the afternoon at Flemington Racecourse
Cheers! Revellers were all smiles as they celebrated Melbourne Cup at the prestigious track
Oopsy daisy! Some revellers were worse for wear by the time the last race finished at 5.15pm
By the time the afternoon hit Flemington, several racegoers had abandoned their high heels in favour of going barefoot
Revellers took advantage of the sunny weather at Flemington Racecourse and enjoyed a fun day out
Whoops! Some revellers needed a helping hand to get to their feet after long day of celebrating the racing event
Irish-born, Queensland-based jockey Robbie Dolan – previously most famous as a singer on Aussie reality show The Voice – steered the Knight’s Choice to victory, edging out Warp Speed in a photo finish.
Okita Soushi and Zardozi both led inside the final furlong but finished third and fourth respectively.
‘I’ll be singing for the rest of my life after that,’ Dolan said post-race.
‘It is incredible. I can’t believe it. I don’t even know what to say.’
Racegoers dressed to the nines to attend the country’s most anticipated racing event of the year
Nap time: Festivities at Flemington kicked off from 8.30am with the last race at 5.15pm – a very long day for dedicated attendees
Say cheese! Smileys revellers were spotted soaking up the sun as they celebrated the Melbourne Cup
Revellers pulled on their best frocks to head to the prestigious Flemington track for the Melbourne Cup
Barefoot was the only way forward for several attendees who started the long day in uncomfortable heels
Many of the 90,000 revellers in attendance of the Melbourne Cup were shocked to see Knight’s Choice win the race that stops a nation
‘I watched every Melbourne Cup for the last 40 years. I thought my best chance was to get him to stay the trip and hopefully he can run home and do the quick sectionals he can on a good track and he proved everybody wrong,’ Dolan continued.
‘I can’t put it into words. It is the biggest race in the world. I have my family here and my partner Christine, our little baby Maisy, and my dad flew over from Ireland and now you have me in tears.’
Knight’s Choice became the longest shot to win the Melbourne Cup since Michelle Payne steered Prince of Penzance to victory in 2015 at 100-1.
Pre-race favourites Vauban and Buckaroo settled at the back of the field and made their runs in the straight but weakened late.
Say cheese! Revellers were all smiles at Flemington following a sunny day of racing fun
Quick break: With almost nine hours of races planned, many revellers needed a short break from the fun
A cheering crowd of more than 90,000 racegoers encouraged the horses at Flemington
Romantic racegoers packed on the PDA while visiting the Flemington Racecourse for the Melbourne Cup
Love was also in the air for these punters as they enjoyed a drink on a warm day.
More than 90,000 revellers flocked through the gates of Flemington Racecourse for Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup
Sunglasses were in abundance among the 90,000-strong crowd at Flemington Racecourse on Tuesday
Flemington wasn’t the only scene of the action both on and off the track on Tuesday
North of the boder, thousands of revellers flocked to Sydney’s Royal Randwick for the Big Dance race meet
Hundreds of revellers were seen at hotspots around the NSW capital and the after party continued at venues in Kings Cross.
Several were spotted partying at bars in the late-night district while others stumbled home.
Who needs a chair? Revellers were spotted taking power naps throughout the racecourse venue
This year’s revellers kept up the famous Melbourne Cup atmosphere by partying hard trackside
Revellers cooled-off with their drink of choice in the crowded, hot racecourse venue on Tuesday
Cooling off: Revellers took advantage of whatever shade they could find amid the sunny conditions
Come on! Racegoers cheered their horses of choice from the sidelines at the Melbourne Cup
While crowds across Australia were stunned by Knight’s Choice’s win, trainer John Symons said it came as no shock to him.
‘We wouldn’t have been here if we didn’t think we could,’ he said.
‘What a great ride by Robbie. I took the risk, went through the pack. I was worried. He got further back than we talked about, but great ride. What a thrill. What a thrill.
‘Look, you know, you work with these horses 24/7, and you know where you have got them, and you would be disappointed if he didn’t run a good race.’
Smiling from Sydney: Thousands of Melbourne Cup fans celebrated the racing event from the New South Wales capital
Party on! Several Sydney revellers continued celebrating well after the last race finished at Flemington
It wasn’t just the Melbourne racegoers enjoying some romance – Sydney revellers were also packing on the PDA
Some Sydney revellers would looked more suited to the wild parties at Flemington than the city CBD
‘You know, what position – top five in a race like this, you have to walk away happy. To win it, it is a dream come true,’ Mr Symons continued.
Co-trainer Sheila Laxon – who also trained Ethereal to Melbourne Cup glory in 2001 – said Dolan was now an honourary Aussie.
‘I love it being down for the Australians. The Australian horse has done it, and Robbie is Australian now as well, so I’m thrilled to win the Cup, and it is the people’s Cup and that’s what it is all about,’ she said.
Sydneysiders across the seaside city headed to their favourite bars to watch the Melbourne Cup
Sydney revellers kept the Melbourne Cup festivities going with after parties across the city
Capturing the moment: Being in the wrong state didn’t stop Sydneysiders from joining the Melbourne Cup fun
