The Victoria Racing Club (VRC) was proud to host a beautiful lunch on Tuesday 22 October at the Myer Family home, Cranlana, in Toorak.
The Myer family, custodians of the 1919 Melbourne Cup, celebrated the union of the 2019 Lexus Melbourne Cup and the 1919 Melbourne Cup for the first time in their home. This year marks 100 years since the first ever three-handled Cup was designed and presented to connections of the winning horse, Artilleryman.
VRC Chairman Amanda Elliott reflected on the wonderful celebration held at Cranlana.
"It was such a privilege to have the first ever three-handled Cup welcome back the 2019 Cup after its journey around Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Japan, China and Singapore as part of this year's Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour," Mrs Elliott said.
"The Myer family has been so generous in allowing us to borrow the 1919 Cup over the past few months in what is a special year for the most recognised sporting trophy in Australia, if not the world."
"Sarah Myer is the granddaughter of Artilleryman's co-owner Sir Samuel Hordern and I sincerely thank Baillieu Myer AC, Sarah Myer and family for generously sharing the 1919 trophy with the VRC as part of the celebration for the centenary of the three-handled Cup design," Mrs Elliott said.
The Melbourne Cup trophy design had experienced many changes before designers settled on the now-famous three handles. In 1915 the disruptions of World War I meant the trophy nearly didn't make it in time for the race, and from 1916 onward the VRC requested the retailer William Drummond & Co. have the trophy crafted locally.
In 1919 Melbourne Goldsmith James Steeth fashioned the famous three-handled design, with the three handles representing a shared celebration between the owner, trainer and jockey.
The 2019 Lexus Melbourne Cup is made by ABC Bullion using 44 pieces of handcrafted Australian gold sourced from Mt Carlton mine in Queensland. It sits on a unique Australian jarrah wood base and is worth $200,000.
The $8 million Lexus Melbourne Cup will be run on Lexus Melbourne Cup Day, Tuesday 5 November 2019 at Flemington Racecourse
