Every year on the first Tuesday in November the whole of Australia comes to a stop at midday for The Melbourne Cup (history), a horse race that some of you might have heard about.. Horse racing is not my 'thing' but it's hard not to get caught up in the excitement when the horses bolt out of the stands. It's a long race 3,200 mtrs more than enough time for the tension to rise, usually by the time the horses are coming into the final stretch everyone is up and cheering (not me of course, much too dignified for all that haha!). The thing that makes me laugh the most every year is, that as blase as I am about it, much to everyone's chagrin, with no research at all into form, jockey etc. I always pick the winner, hilarious!! This year I won a whole $35, just enough to buy the two desserts seen below for the four of us to demolish quick fast, the best bit of the whole lunch methinks.....!
Then there was the prize for the best hat, which went to the lady with the black hat/yellow flowers combo..but personally I fell in love with the lady 'of a certain age' with the red hat (not a very clear picture) but you can see how charmingly elegant she looked....
This years race was the closest finish in the history of the race, it took the judges a good five or six minutes to study the photo finish and you can see by the picture it was won by a breath by French trained horse Dunaden from English galloper Red Cadeaux. All in all a good day, what can I say, by pure luck , I know how to pick a winner.....! Hope you have a fab day.....
Wonderful post Grace! I glad you won!
ReplyDeleteGreat post. You had food too.
ReplyDeleteRe your comments on CVDP, my work team had an outing and we ate lunch there. The food is terrific, but too much of a good thing ...
Congratulations! I rarely bet because I have the worst luck ever. I'd rather spend my money on deserts like in your photo.
ReplyDeleteThe desserts look scrumptious! Congrats on the big win!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Grace! I always love it when I win although I haven't been to the horse races in quite some time! Love the lady in the red hat! Delightful captures for the day! Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteSylvia
what fun, you winner!
ReplyDeleteAloha from Honolulu
Comfort Spiral
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Glad I wasn't the only one not wearing a hat! Well done picking the winner.
ReplyDeleteYour always a winner with us! Great looking desserts.
ReplyDeleteWow, won by a whisker it looks like!!
ReplyDeleteRed gifts. Not China come a-calling?
ReplyDeleteSo it is either Rugby or Horse Racing ...
ReplyDeleteWonderful post to capture the spirit and style of the event. I am so inexperienced at horse racing, that when I figured out how to read the Racing Form I placed my bet on whichever horse was good at running on a muddy track, but I was unaware that the next race on the schedule was not live on the muddy track in front of me, but was on closed circuit TV from Belmont Race Track in New York, where it was clear and dry. Oh well,
ReplyDeleteI received this week's issue of Newsweek Magazine today, opened it, and saw a photo of the Queen in Melbourne. I thought to myself, "hey, she was in Perth because I read that on Perth Daily Photo." I read a little further and it did indeed mention that she had been in Perth where the vote occurred to give female royal children equal rights to the throne as male heirs.
In France, we call taht "luck of the beginners" (chance des debutants), when the one who is not so interested comes to win.I like the elegane of those old ladies! you must have had a great day!
ReplyDeletePerhaps I should try it, lol! I'm glad you had such fun!
ReplyDeletebelle photo de fete, et peut etre bel autoportrait ?
ReplyDeleteQuelle belle fête! Mais ce sont les chapeaux qui m'amusent le plus. On en voit, ici, au moment des mariages, mais ils sont tellement rares que les femmes les portent souvent aussi bien que des bretelles à un lapin... :-)
ReplyDeleteIt certainly was a close one.
ReplyDeleteis it funny, when the horses run, even the whole of New Zealand stays in a stand still? almost every office run a sweepstake. I didn't buy a ticket this yeat, because I have never won.
ReplyDeleteHave you?
Must be fun to be there once. You are a lucky gambler. The desert is hilarious, almost a meal and the price for it! I agree with you for the hats, the red one is much more stylish.
ReplyDeleteYay! you won Grace - and what a great way to spend your winnings - My poor horse got caught up in the middle and never heard of again but I so enjoyed watching the occasion with those beautiful tenors singing and the wealth of pretty fashion.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting and I do love the ladies in hats. They could make wonderful portrait studies. I love you banner of the city lights at night, gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI love a good story like this. :) Glad that you won the big pot. And I agree with you, the red hat is much nicer and more elegant than the black model. It looks more like something one would wear to a funeral. Nice shots today.
ReplyDeleteHow are you on Lottery numbers?
ReplyDeleteyou can show us your hat
ReplyDeleteLovely series, Grace! The top shot reminded me we were wearing short sleeve shirts and flip-flops just a couple of weeks ago here... (sight) :-)
ReplyDeleteSounds to me like you had lots of fun and a fabulous dessert to boot!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun post. Love the ladies and their hats! Don't see many ladies wearing hats here these days.
ReplyDeleteAnd it's so nice that you know how to pick a winner. Do you contract out your services? How's about a nice trip to the U.S.? :-)
Those deserts are to die for. That was nice of you to share your largesse also!
I'll check with you next year for the winner then.
ReplyDeleteI missed it all, maybe the only one who did :)
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed it all, looks like you had a great day.
The horse racing here in Rio de Janeiro seem fashion show. Men and women exhibit flashy clothes.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the visits and comments on my blog. You are always welcome.
Wow! That's really winning by a nose!! Bravo Dunaden. And congrats to you for picking the winning pony. I'll contact you before next year's Kentucky Derby. ((wink...wink..nod...nod))
ReplyDeleteHow exciting! Reminds me of My Fair Lady...I love seeing all the great hats at horse races :D
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