Corey Brown rides Shocking winning the 2009 Melbourne Cup during the 2009 Emirates Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington. Slattery Images
I don’t get the Melbourne Cup. Or what’s become at least. I appreciate it as a sporting contest – something that has been long debated – with a storied history intrinsically linked to Australian culture. But what is it really about?
I’m not condemning the event. Anything that has survived since 1861 must be doing something right, certainly with a wide appeal strong enough to survive and prosper for 148 years.
But are we really a nation of horse racing lovers? Why does the sport vanish out of sight for the rest of the year if that’s the case? Or is it just one of those things that is ingrained in our consciousness, so much so that despite our antipathy for racing we get on the bandwagon?
Probably. And doesn’t that bandwagon sure fill up each November.
But there is juxtaposition here.
On Channel 7’s coverage of the big race, stories and interviews outlining the long and storied history of the Melbourne Cup, and its importance to Australia’s sporting culture, were side by side with stories from the likes of Fifi Box analysing the fashions of the day, declaring, “no one really cares about the horses anyway.”
And therein lies the contradiction that the Melbourne Cup has become.
It has been hijacked, for want of a better word.
Anthony Sharwood, writing on the Punch says, “The spring racing carnival has been hijacked by fashonistas. And a motley assortment of B-listers, C-listers, gibberers, attention-seekers, hangers-on, creeps, drunks, wankers and wannabes.”
The irony is horse racing probably needs these leeches. It’s what equates to corporate dollars that helps fund the whole thing, not to mention getting the celebrity loving media onboard.
I sometimes feel sorry for the true horse racing fans, and those who work within the industry, who have their day hijacked by the celebrity media-fuelled circus that seems to have pervaded all parts of our society.
How embarrassing it must be for them to see some C-grade celebrity tell Australia their tip for the race is the horse called Daffodil because that is one of their favourite flowers.
This doesn’t seem to happen regularly in other sports.
I don’t see such celebrities appearing on AFL telecasts declaring Essendon as their tip because red and black are their favourite colours.
It is something that I can relate to, as a motorsport fan that works within the industry, and have grown tired of.
At one race, I walked into the paddock, leaving behind fans that would have given anything to follow me in to catch a glimpse of their heroes, to be greeted by an Australian sporting great from another sport, who shall remain nameless, telling their partner, “Can we f**king go home now?”
It’s a shame really.
It seems sport and popular culture make awkward but necessary bedfellows.
But in the case of the Melbourne Cup it seems ‘fashion’ and ‘celebrity’ are reducing the race to a sideshow. It should be the other way round, shouldn’t it?
Perhaps the Melbourne Cup festival appeals as a must attend event because it allows Joe and Jean Bloggs to experience the chance to dress up in a suit/frock and get a taste of an extravagant, excessive and ‘good’ lifestyle paraded to them in the media through ‘celebrity’. It’s unattainable, yet the Cup gives them that chance to at least taste it for a day.
Vanity at its best. Sad really, in my opinion.
For most, it’s a chance to wear a suit, frock, weird hat and get drunk and gamble, all on a Tuesday.
Most of these once a year punters wouldn’t be able to name five horses, let alone a jockey. But it’s okay. It doesn’t matter.
Nedahl Stelio, a fashionista also writing on the Punch, states, “Admittedly, not much horse racing is watched by women through the course of the day. I can’t actually remember the last time I saw a horse.”
She claims the racing diehards need to accept the fashion sideshow as part of a sport with an “unrivalled appeal to both men and women.”
It’s not the sport that is appealing it seems, but anyway she continues: “And I bet you won’t see as many good looking fillies cheering at the AFL (too bloody cold for one thing). No. It’s only the races where we flock in mildly skimpy outfit.”
Oh dear. Isn’t that a tad demeaning to claim that women – good looking fillies no less – would only be interested in sporting events where they can frock up?
The focus on equality amongst the sexes at the Melbourne Cup should be on Michelle Payne, the only female jockey in the race, competing on equal footing against men, not the latest Australian Idol reject spat out of the talentless factory and what they’re wearing.
It’s this contradiction that, sadly, scars the Melbourne Cup.
Dazman
Guest
or Mr Ed !
Fabio100
Guest
The same sort of nonsense happens in Britain at Royal Ascot. The attempt to sell what can't be sold to those who aren't interested in it via different things. Sad really, but it happens.
Marshall
Guest
Great article. Couldn't agree more.
Bulldog
Guest
Not sure this phenomen is just limited to horse racing and the Melbourne Cup - but is just a reflection of the current fixation into today's society on instant celebrity and trashy behaviour etc. Also your reference to AFL is interesting and a little naive. What about the AFL Brownlow medal event? That seems to now be dominated on which player can bring the hottest blond model with the skimpest dress, rather than anything about football. Do not blame racing for what is going on as I think you would find that any sport which could generate what happens at the Melbourne Cup and the Spring carnival would jump at the chance.
MyGeneration
Roar Guru
Just wanted to give another thumbs up to the balanced take of this article. As others have pointed out, the irony is that racing is one of the most historically and culturally significant of sports, and it's lifeblood is provided by the most literally down-to-earth characters, yet it allows itself to be represented on its biggest stage by a rogue's gallery of tossers, pimps and thieves. Alas, I don't think the racing industry sees it has much choice as it fights to make the most of its 3-and-a-half minute window in the rapidly overstuffed Australian sporting calendar.
Brian
Guest
Gambling, Drinking & girls in short dresses. What exactly is unclear. Do some people care about the horses?
megatron
Guest
Looking at the papers today backs up this point. It's as if they can't wait to get the racing out of the way so they can show pics of the celebrity slappers.
Pippinu
Roar Guru
I'm just checking out the back of the sporting lift out in the Age today, and I thought that I would give my inaugural Pippinu Melbourne Cup awards. Best male pairing: Brian Lara and All Night Dwight. Most uncomfortable looking AFL player: Dane Swan B Class celebrity award Sophie Monk And now, the moment you've been waiting for Pippinu's Bonza Sheila award. It was a tight call, especially with Jennifer Hawkins in the top 3, but the winner had to be our Federal Sports Minister, Kate Ellis.
megatron
Guest
Good post sheek
sheek
Guest
You know, in subsistence culture, wealth was measured by the number of pigs, or cows, or goats, or whatever, you owned. In western society, owning racehorses are a sign of considerable wealth. Before that, & before automation, owning horses was a sign of wealth, since horses were the primary means of transportation for about two millenia. Wealthy horse owners could afford to dress up in their finery when they met fellow horse owners to have private or public race-offs & wagers. Young ladies looking to hook a man of considerable means would also dress up in their finery to attend these soirees. So what we are witnessing today, is simply a continuation of age-old rituals of displays of ostentatious wealth & attracting the opposite sex, not to mention having a punt. But I agree today it has gone too far, & it's obscene that most people celebrating Melbourne Cup day would have little idea what it's all about. By all means have fun, but writing yourself off legless is pretty senseless. Personally, I like the pageantry, history & culture of horse racing. I much prefer watching the build-up to the cup at home, taking as much in as I can. But I actually support fashions of the field. I think they elegantly add to the occasion. Of course, you get wannabees wherever you go, & I accept them as a necessary evil. I enjoyed the day with my work crew mates at the Light Brigade Hotel in Paddington, Sydney. While I enjoyed the good company, trying to follow the lead-up to the cup, & the race itself, was a write-off. I must say, there were some 6-7 female bar staff, all dressed up in their finery, & every single one of them was a stunner!
mick handley
Guest
totally in agreement Adrian,it;s turned into a schoolies week for posers and wannabies, what ever happened to the dress code ? some of the so called male celebrities (ie the Madden brothers) looked like homeless tramps i know the unshaved look is/was a fashion statement but at least some of them could have made an effort to look half decent. As for some of the female celebrities is the hooker look in? The only time the focus was on racing was during the few minutes of the running of the cup, then back to look at me. see how much I can drink etc oy vay
Pippinu
Roar Guru
I guess this is partly why I've never bothered attending the Melbourne Cup - I don't really like the company of drunks, even if they are wearing the latest frocks. But I've always been part of the bandwagon in terms of watching it on tele, and putting on my one and only bet for the year - so it's certainly an event that sucks you in one way or the other. And I still enjoy the spectacle of watching the horses come home. The slow evolution of the Melbourne Cup from a the people's race to the celebrity, fashion, look-at-me freak show it has become started a very long time ago. Working in Cooma for a couple of years, I knew a local who had been going to the Cup since his teenage years, maybe 25 or so consecutive cups. He knew I was from Footscray, so he used to tell me that he always stayed at the motel on Droop St, and that he'd always eat at Poons, on Barkly St. He used to love telling stories of going to the cup, but he too was aware of this change, that he had first noticed years ago. A small example of this was when he spotted a woman wearing leathers, with two blokes on leashes, when she got closer to him, he noticed she had suspenders on, or something similar, but her nether regions were completely exposed, and he copped an eyeful of pubes. He understood there and then that his days of attending the Cup were coming to an end.
Short-Blind.
Guest
Adrian I totally agree your sentiments. I've had the opportunity to attend Flemington on the big day several times over the years - at all levels from the 'committee' room (as a guest), members and public areas. I have observed significant changes over this time (86-04) as in all parts of OZ society because the media driven cult of celebrity is now totally out of hand. I suspect the large numbers of raucous 'joe public' attending the Spring Carnival see it as a chance to rub shoulders with and mimic celeb behaviour (as well as to have fun). However, with vomiting housewives etc class is at a premium and I'm sure the old time punters would be ruing the crowds, behaviour and lack of focus on the horse flesh. Yep, the MC is now an 'event' more about the banal worship of celebrity, fashion, tourism and making a buck. The way we have bowed to the all consuming American cultural imperialism fed to us by our cringe worthy and compliant commercial media is disheartening to say the least. See the ignorant fawning over talentless visiting celebs such as Paris Hilton and the other logies 'talent' flown in every year. I now prefer the public bar at a country track where the real spirit of OZ racing is still alive - with real blokes and sheilas and without the BS!
megatron
Guest
Fair call. It's become a real circus and other sports wouldn't accept it
Terry Kidd
Guest
Well said Adrian, especially pointing out the conundrums said by women concerning status ..... very ironic.
sheek
Guest
Well, horses can't talk. At least in anything we humans can understand. So all the other stuff is substituted to make up for the fact most humans can't communicate with most horses. Except maybe Bart..........