The destinations for the 2021 Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour have officially been revealed, with the People’s Cup to celebrate its Australian roots and travel to 30 destinations across the nation.
The iconic trophy will travel far and wide across Australia, including visiting Cairns in Far North Queensland, Longford in Tasmania and as far as Newman in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.
The $275,000 trophy will also visit Kerang in northern Victoria, with the regional town still celebrating hometown hero Jye McNeil’s fairytale win in last year’s Lexus Melbourne Cup. As part of the tour, Jye will travel back to his hometown and share his Cup memories with the community.
Taree in New South Wales will be equally delighted when dual Melbourne Cup-winning jockey and Lexus Ambassador Corey Brown travels back to his birthplace on tour, with the community still recovering after being heavily impacted by the March floods.
The Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour will also include a number of popular Australian race meetings during its four month journey, including venturing north to Darwin for their annual Darwin Cup race day as well as visiting Broome for the Broome Cup in August
The Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour National Sweep will return for a third year to give 24 regional Cup Tour destinations across Australia the opportunity to be allocated a barrier for the 2021 Lexus Melbourne Cup.
The town which draws the barrier of the Lexus Melbourne Cup-winning horse will be presented with a cash prize of $50,000 to put towards a nominated charity for a local community initiative.
The bushfire-ravaged community of Kangaroo Island in South Australia took home the $50,000 donation last year for the Royal Flying Doctors, after Twilight Payment led from start to finish to win the 160th running of the Cup.
Inspired by the initiative, the ownership group behind Twilight Payment matched the prize to make the total contribution $100,000.
“The VRC is pleased to be taking the Lexus Melbourne Cup trophy back on the road after restricted travel last year, and sharing it with the nation again,” VRC Chairman Neil Wilson said.
“Now in its 19th year, the Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour allows local communities to come together to share stories, celebrate their favourite racing moments and to raise funds for local community charities and initiatives in their town.
“The tour also plays an important role in showcasing these towns and communities with people across Australia and the world.
“The addition of the Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour National Sweep two years ago has added another wonderful dimension to the tour and we look forward to sharing $50,000 with the successful community later this year.”
Chief Executive of Lexus Australia, Scott Thompson, said as Principal Partner of the VRC they were honoured to again be driving this year’s Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour.
“We are thrilled to be entering our fourth year as naming rights sponsor of the Lexus Melbourne Cup, and the 19th year of our relationship with the VRC,” Mr. Thompson said.
“The Lexus Melbourne Cup is the People’s Cup, and we look forward to playing our part in sharing the iconic trophy with communities across Australia, as well as supporting fundraising efforts in all states and territories.”
The Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour will officially kick off on Saturday 3 July when the Cup visits Port Augusta in South Australia and attends the Port Augusta Cup race meeting.
Since the tour first began in 2003, the Cup has become one of the most recognised sporting trophies in the world and as part of its tour has travelled more than 750,000 kilometres and visited more than 530 regional, rural and metropolitan destinations.
For further information about the 2021 Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour please visitmelbournecuptour.com.au.
The 2021 Melbourne Cup Carnival begins with Victoria Derby Day on Saturday 30 October followed by Lexus Melbourne Cup Day on Tuesday 2 November, Kennedy Oaks Day on Thursday 4 November and Seppelt Wines Stakes Day on Saturday 6 November.
Media EnquiriesVRC PR & Content Executive Lotti Dyer0409 520 228| [email protected]
2021 Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour Destinations:
Victoria – Melbourne, Coleraine, Kaniva, Apollo Bay, Nagambie, Bendigo, Merbein, Kerang.
New South Wales – Sydney, Taree, Muswellbrook, Sapphire Coast.
Queensland – Brisbane, Gold Coast, Cairns, Richmond, Warra, Warwick, Noosa, Kandanga, Gayndah.
Northern Territory – Darwin. Western Australia – Perth, Kalgoorlie, Broome, Jennacubbine, Newman.
South Australia – Adelaide, Port Augusta.
Tasmania – Longford.
Schedule*Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour National Sweep destination
