The prestigious Lexus Melbourne Cup trophy will be showcased at Naas on Bank Holiday Monday, August 5 during the track's richest race day, featuring the Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes.
As part of its global tour spanning 39 different locations, the Melbourne Cup will make a stop at Naas. The racecourse intends to honour the legacy of Robert Cooper Bagot, a Kildare native whose contributions were instrumental in shaping the esteemed Melbourne Cup event.
Born in Fontstown in 1827, Bagot immigrated to Australia in 1849 and later served as the first Secretary of the Victoria Racing Club in 1864. His transformative work on the Flemington racecourse and advocacy for a half-holiday on Melbourne Cup Day significantly enhanced the race's popularity. Naas Racecourse will pay tribute to Bagot by naming a race in his memory on this special occasion.
The highlight of the day's racing at Naas will be the €300,000 Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes, along with the Treo Eile ex-racehorse parade featuring Max Dynamite, a Melbourne Cup runner-up. This year marks the 164th running of the illustrious Melbourne Cup, known as "The Race that Stops a Nation," with a prize fund of $AUD8.4 million and a trophy valued at $AUD750,000.