Melbourne Cup: Glamorous racegoers let loose after watching the ‘race that stops the nation’

Thousands of glamorous racegoers are celebrating after watching the Melbourne Cup, showing off a lot of skin and a host of bizarre new fashion trends.

After nervously clutching their betting slips for the big race, once Without a Fight went first at around 3.03pm Melbourne time the tension eased and the partying began in earnest.

It was Western Australian-born jockey Mark Zahra’s second consecutive winning ride in the Melbourne Cup after becoming the first to cross the line in 2022.

When the big race was over, a few lucky ones flashed their winning smiles across the country. The trifecta paid more than $10,000

The usual kick-off of the heels followed the exciting conclusion of the main event, with well-behaved punters turning into barefoot partygoers

The sun is shining, the tongue is out: the partying got interesting for some even before the sun set on the day’s race

Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Mark Zahra’s wife Elyse Zahra (pictured left) hugs his sister Claire (pictured right) after Zahra won the big race at Without A Fight just after 3pm on Tuesday

In 2023, Soulcombe stormed into second place, with Sheraz also pulling away from the pack to fill the spots, completing the trifecta for the lucky few, which netted a whopping $10,668.10.

One lucky bettor put down a whopping $140,000 on Without a Fight, ridden by Mark Zahra.

He was paid $7.50 for the win, meaning his courageous kick earned over a million dollars.

With the way the drinks were flowing across the country, you’d be forgiven for thinking there were new millionaires everywhere.

While the beers, wines and spirits – and waters – flowed all day, the festivities kicked into high gear in the late afternoon at the race tracks in Melbourne and Sydney and around Australia.

Some gamblers had hundreds and even thousands of reasons to celebrate, while for others, disappointment filled their plastic cups.

But that hardly mattered when you were surrounded by your friends at Australia’s biggest and most glamorous midweek party.

The usual kick-off of the heels followed the exciting conclusion to the main event, with well-behaved punters turning into barefoot revelers heading into the post-race festivities.

With the weather nice and warm in most locations, party goers took the chance to show some skin as they let loose.

Thousands of punters were in the mood to party before and especially after Australia’s biggest race, the Melbourne Cup

Whether the choice of drink was water or wine, the celebrations were enthusiastic at the Melbourne Cup at Flemington

A group of racegoers started singing in Flemington on Tuesday afternoon after Without A Fight was the first to cross

Jockey Mark Zahra celebrates victory on his horse Without A Fight in $8.4 million race that holds back a nation

Tension mounted as the field turned for home before Without A Fight, with Zahra on board, broke free to win easily

Not everyone can be a winner, but there was still plenty of reason to smile at Australia’s biggest and most glamorous midweek party

Fashion is always a big part of the Spring Racing Carnival and the biggest racing day on the calendar, but this year has seen a huge change.

Punters and celebrities swapped modest dresses for daring cutouts, sexy sheer skirts, shorts and, perhaps most surprisingly, sneakers.

The incredible new fashion trend emerging at the 2023 Melbourne Cup: ‘This will change everything’

Shorts and sneakers were spotted trackside during the Melbourne Cup

Traditionally, gamblers and celebrities dress up for the traditional event

Instead of the usual heels and dress shoes normally seen, sneakers are now acceptable at Flemington, with those holding general admission tickets only asked to ‘dress appropriately in your favorite racing attire’.

There was no official dress code for GA gamblers.