General News
15 November, 2023
Cup brings frivolity and tips
LODDON communities had an added connection to Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup. The $600,000 trophy had stopped off in Boort last month as part of its international tour and had the town in the running to win $50,000 for its nominated charity, the Royal...
LODDON communities had an added connection to Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup.
The $600,000 trophy had stopped off in Boort last month as part of its international tour and had the town in the running to win $50,000 for its nominated charity, the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
Vabaun from barrier three was Boort’s drawn horse. It finished a distant 14th but ahead of a sentimental tip for the area, Serpentine, who came in 19th in the 22-horse race.
Tipping the Melbourne Cup winner is almost as hard as preparing a phantom call of the big race.
Luke Humphreys, who has been a professional racecaller for five years and was first behind the microphone as a teenager at Wedderburn harness racing, knows first-hand the challenges of phantom calls.
He was in Boort on Monday night for the trotting club’s Calcutta - an evening of raffles, sweeps and auctions tempting punters trying to predict winners.
“They’re really hard to do,” said Luke as he prepared for the big call. “I’ve even done phantom calls for (leading thoroughbred trainer) Gai Waterhouse.
“You have to entertain and unlike the real race calls, this time there are no horses making the action before your eyes.”
Trotting club president John Campbell said it was the second year a Calcutta evening had been held on Cup Eve by the club.
“We’d been trying for a third trots meeting in the year, missed out so decided to create a social event.”