Introduced in 2019, the Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour National Sweep is an important VRC charity initiative which see's 24 rural and regional towns allocated a barrier for the 2025 Lexus Melbourne Cup.
Representatives from each of the 24 destinations are invited to Flemington to watch the Lexus Melbourne Cup live on track at Flemington and the town which draws the barrier of the winning horse will be presented with a cash prize of $50,000 to put towards a charity of their choice.
Last year's winner, Harden, donated the prize to the Harden Pony Club to upgrade its facilities, providing a better experience for budding equestrians.
VRC Chief Executive Officer Kylie Rogers said the announcement marks an exciting milestone for communities nationwide.
“The Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour has embarked on an extraordinary journey this year, travelling to 36 destinations from New York to Normanton in outback Queensland, giving racing fans and communities across the globe a rare opportunity to experience the iconic Lexus Melbourne Cup trophy up close,” Ms Rogers said.
“Now that the barriers have been allocated to our rural and regional destinations, each town truly has a stake in this year’s Lexus Melbourne Cup.
We wish all 24 towns the very best of luck there will be plenty of cheering across the country when the field jumps on the first Tuesday of November.”
All eyes now turn to the official Lexus Melbourne Cup Barrier Draw on Howden Victoria Derby Day, where each town will discover which runner will jump from their assigned barrier.
Since its inception in 2003, the Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour has travelled more than one million kilometres, bringing the excitement and magic of the People’s Cup to communities far and wide across Australia and the world. The tour has included visits to 490 schools, 422 hospitals and aged care facilities, and participation in more than 2,200 community events, while raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for local fundraising initiatives through events and the National Sweep.
For further information about the 2025 Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour please visit Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour
