Cambridge next best thing to Melbourne

Victoria Racing Club deputy chief executive Sue Lloyd-Williams says Cambridge has a unique new opportunity to develop international  tourism opportunities through the equine industry.
Ms Lloyd-Williams was in Cambridge earlier this week to meet representatives of the First Tuesday Trust which is developing a new iconic community day around the Melbourne Cup at Cambridge’s Village Green on November 3.
The Melbourne Cup event in Cambridge  is the brainchild of Hamilton veterinarian Noel Power and Waikato-based media and promotions consultant Phillip Quay who came up with concept one-and-a-half years ago and have spent hundreds of hours in their bid to bring the family community day to fruition.  It was Power and Quay who established the First Tuesday NZ Trust which now includes a group of trustees including  Waipa District deputy mayor Peter Lee, Olympic champion equestrian Mark Todd and racing presenter Karyn Fenton-Ellis.
Their idea is  to see the Cambridge Village Green become the “closest thing to being at Flemington Racecourse (home of the Melbourne Cup” with a large screen displaying Melbourne Cup races, on site TAB, a fashions in the field contest, local celebrities, family entertainment and live music. A display in the Cambridge Town Hall will feature equine-related memorabilia including Melbourne Cups previously won by horses in the district.
Ms Lloyd-Williams said the professionalism of the way the Melbourne Cup event in Cambridge had been put forward was most impressive and was the first ever  time the VRC had agreed to give official recognition to a Melbourne Cup event other than that which was staged at Flemington racecourse.
A delegation from First Tuesday Trust and Waipa District Council travelled to Melbourne last year to discuss the Cambridge-based Melbourne Cup day. This was well received by Victoria Racing Club officials.
Ms Lloyd-Williams said it was a coup for the First Tuesday Trust to get the official endorsement of the historic  Victoria Racing Club. “We don’t allow our Melbourne Cup logo and name to be used officially by just anyone,” she said.
Ms Lloyd-Wiliams said there is a real tourism opportunity to be explored around the equine industry in the Waikato.
“Cambridge and the greater Waikato has a wonderful history of success in horse racing and the equine field. There is an opportunity for the Victoria Racing Club to encourage its exclusive 27,000 members on its database to visit Cambridge to visit stud farms, wine trails and other attractions in the area,” she said.
Hamilton Airport chief executive Chris Doak, who met with Ms Lloyd-Williams on Friday, said he fully endorsed the Melbourne Cup day in Cambridge and he was keen to see the equine tourism possibilities progressed further. It will require horse racing studs to embrace the tourism aspect and ensure that tourists can see top-class horse properties when they visit, he said.