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The XXXX Gold Bunbury Cup 2010 was held on Thursday March 11. The event lived up to its well-known reputation - residents from around the region converged on Bunbury for the South West Racing Calendar’s biggest one-day party.
The 10 race schedule beginning at 11.55 am, gave plenty of time between races to place a bet, hit the bar, bump into an old friend, check out the talent, make a new friend, grab a bite to eat and then return to watch the action, before the last race at 5.30 pm.
The main race of the day was of course Race 9, the XXXX Gold Bunbury Cup and the excitement built throughout the day in the lead-up to the feature. The 2200 metre flier was taken out by Whipsaw, who also won the Pinjarra Cup less than 2 weeks ago. Jockey Daniel Staeck was exuberant as he won comfortably and repeated his 2009 effort, when he rode Wicklow Hills to victory at Bunbury as well.
There were plenty of winners around the ground and the estimated crowd of over 5000 patrons were very well behaved. It was a muggy day in Bunbury as the mercury rose towards the mid 30’s, and with no breeze to neutralize the heat, there weren’t many places to go to escape. The fine, sunny day made a range of clothing styles possible, with a good 90% of the crowd putting in the effort to look the part and get into the racing fashion scene.
As previously reported, the action off the track was just as hot, with plenty to admire as the ladies dressed to impress, or at least try. There were some sharply dressed fellas, as well as the standard anti-fashion lads who were never shy in proclaiming how they good they thought they looked, even if their tie was printed on their shirt.
The Fashion on the Field judges were constantly on the look out for men and women who scrubbed up exceptionally well and I’m glad I never had the job of picking the winners, as my form with the horses left a lot to be desired. From glam with prams; fake tattoos and fake tans; fascinating fascinators; sensational short skirts and eyewear of all shapes and sizes, most of the ladies were looking great, but high heels on grass were clearly testing patience by Race 5. The men who went to all the trouble to look the part, or complement the lady they were with, were soon ditching the ties and hats they arrived with and regretting the decision to wear a 3-piece suit in 34-degree heat.
So if you have never been to a Bunbury Cup, put it on your list of things to do in the South West. Dress up or dress down, it doesn’t really matter. Bring your wallet with as much as you are prepared to lose; a friendly smile and a friend or two and have a Big Day Out at the Bunbury Cup.
dissapointing fashions on field competition .judges bad organised with mature ladies and under 25 judged together.a really bad idea and humiliatingfor the mature ladies as the young girls have a clear advantage. it should be categorised into age ie,under 25 to 35 then over40. comments around the course were all agreed it was bad taste by the organisers.
well Sue , i am young but i would have to agree on your point ! Not only is it unfair due to age ,but as a keen punter attending many races in bunbury and throughout the state, i would have to say the whole Bunbury carnival fashions on the filed shows faviourtism towards people who work for the sponsors or who are friends and collegues of the sponsors providing them with a massive advantage. I have also come to the concusion that the judges have little creditation on judging racing fashions and do not seem to understand the critierian, that is required of garments and millenery .
DR
I don't know Sue, are mature ladies really that disadvantaged? I wasn't there this year but from my own experience I've seen that both the guys and the women putting a bit of effort into the day can be seen, and they scrub up OK in comparison. I reckon there are a few gorgeous mature women out the who might find this a bit condescending.