Glamorous Melbourne racegoers let loose on one of Australia’s biggest race days – and the party isn’t over yet

All eyes may have been glued to the track during the running of the nation’s iconic Caulfield Cup on Saturday – but some of the most colourful action actually took place away from the field. 

Almost 25,000 people flocked to Caulfield Racecourse for what has become the biggest drawcard of Melbourne’s annual Spring Racing Carnival. 

Although persistent rain on Friday threatened to overshadow the festivities, the drizzle gave way to sunny spells on Saturday with the mercury eventually topping out at about 18C.

Irish-born gelding Duke De Sessa took out the historic cup, which has been running since 1879, with skillful top jockey Harry Coffey seeing off a late challenge by crowd favourite Buckaroo.

And trainer Ciaron Maher became the first person in history to win the Caulfield Cup in Melbourne and The Everest, 750km north, at Sydney’s Royal Randwick on the same day. 

But he wasn’t the only one celebrating. 

Others opted to hold their own races away from the official fields

There was plenty of fun and frivolity by punters and partygoers alike

Early on, the meticulously dressed and well-heeled crowd was prime and proper …

… but soon those heels were off and racing – and even used to do the odd ‘shoey’

That’s when the real party started at what has become one of the most popular days on Melbourne’s annual Spring Racing Carnivale calendar

While not everyone managed to back the winner in the $5milllion group one fixture, there were more than enough thrills and spills trackside to keep the most demanding of punters and partygoers charging. 

As always, by early evening, there were the annual array of well-heeled racegoers struggling to stay on their feet. 

But by and large, the fun-loving crowd knew when to reign it in – whether it be at the bar or during the impromptu races they put on themselves after mounting their mates in the fields. 

And by the end of the day, there was a sense of love in the air, with plenty of public displays of affection throughout the racecourse.

The true race tragics will only have a couple of days to regroup ahead of the Geelong Cup on Wednesday, while others will be plotting another day of fun and festivities at the Cox Plate in Moonee Valley next weekend.  

The fashion stakes could not have been high at Caulfield Racecourse …

… with both men and women doing their best to impress in their finest.

For some racegoers, it all become too much during an action-packed day on the track

Though chairs proved in short supply for those needing a break for their high heels 

By late in the day, there were plenty of hurdles for racegoers to negotiate

For many, the drawcard day out ended with a kiss