Yamba Museum will host a fundraising event on Saturday September 7 from 12 noon to 3pm that features two Melbourne Cups as part of the Victorian Racing Club’s (VCR) Tour. The features are the 1919 “Three Handled Loving” Melbourne Cup and the 2019 Lexus Melbourne Cup. Their value exceeds $400,000.

The 1919 Cup has a strong connection to the Clarence Valley as the family custodian is Mrs Sarah Myer of Yulgilbar Castle. Her grandfather Sir Samuel Hordern was the owner of the 1919 winner Artilleryman, a horse who died tragically a few months later.

As well as celebrating a centenary win, it is a very special Cup as it was the first to be fashioned with three handles, one handle each for the owner, trainer and jockey. On the event day, a film about the making of the Cup will be shown.

It is through the strong support of Mr Sidney Baillieu Myer AC in conjunction with the VRC that this event at Yamba Museum, and also at Grafton Regional Gallery on Sunday September 8 has been made possible.

The Yamba Museum is very thrilled to be the focus of a trophy of a sporting race known all over Australia and hope the community will be very excited to not only get a look at the valuable Melbourne Cup up close, but the chance to hold and be photographed it.

Tickets are $50 per person and will be available from Yamba Museum’s front desk and Eventbrite on the Museum’s website. The cost includes high quality finger food from Karrikin restaurant, a glass of bubbly, presentations from a winning Cup jockey or trainer, a film on the history and making of the cup, a special appearance by the Chairman of the Victorian Racing Club Amanda Elliott, and the chance to be photographed holding the Cup.

Lesley Pickering