Which Celebrities Will Descend On The Melbourne Cup?

WE ARE fast approaching one of the most exciting events on the Australian entertainment calendar. 

Generally speaking, sporting events aren’t for everybody, but horse races can be a little bit different.

There’s a general festivity to them that transcends the sport itself, and the Melbourne Cup arguably encapsulates this concept better than any other horse race on the planet (though Americans and Brits may argue for the Kentucky Derby or Cheltenham Festival, respectively).

For anyone who may not be specifically familiar with the Melbourne Cup, it truly is one of the most exciting horse racing events on the planet.

Some call it the “race that stops a nation” given that it’s quite literally a national holiday. That day is the first Tuesday of each November, and sees droves of fans head to the Flemington Racecourse.

The contest itself is the richest two-mile handicap in the world, and is set aside for thoroughbred racehorses three years old or older.

Beyond the contest though, the event is quite a bit like some sort of cultural festival. There’s drinking and dining on the course and in the area, and people tend to dress in their colorful best, in typical horse racing fashion.

And as you might expect from such an occasion, there tends to be a fairly exciting crowd of celebrities, for those who like to keep tabs on entertainers and the rich and famous.

It’s impossible to know at this point which celebrities will descend on the Cup on November 6 this year, but to give you an idea, these are just some of the noteworthy people who have attended in recent years.

Lleyton Hewitt - Arguably the most famous living Australian sports star, at least from an international perspective, retired tennis pro Lleyton Hewitt attended in 2017 with his wife Bec. It was not his first time at the event either, though he made an impression with his sharp suit last year.

Elsa Pataky - Australian actress Elsa Pataky has also been known to show up at the races. Best known for her roles in the Fast & Furious franchise and for being married to Thor himself (Chris Hemsworth), she’s a delightful presence wherever she goes, the 2016 Cup included.

Jennifer Hawkins - You know it’s a good event when Miss Universe bothers to attend! The former Miss Australia and television personality attended in 2016, embracing the spirit of the event in a wonderful sleeveless red pantsuit and race day hat to match. She then headlined the best-dressed recap in 2017!

Joel McHale - Best known for his starring role on the beloved TV comedy Community, McHale is a writer and comedian who’s gained worldwide popularity. He was a nice international guest in 2015, for an event that is packed with celebrities but often fairly Aussie-specific!

David Guetta - You know it’s a big time event when arguably the most famous DJ on the planet takes it upon himself to fly to Australia and attend. Guetta, like McHale, showed up in 2015.

Kate Waterhouse - We’ll round out the list with another famous Australian. Kate Waterhouse is best known for her stint on Australia’s Next Top Model but has since become a recognizable model and personality. She’s been known to attend the Cup throughout the years.

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