The Victoria Racing Club (VRC) is inviting local communities across Australia to participate in the historic 2006 Emirates Melbourne Cup Tour, by providing the opportunity to join the celebration of an Australian icon with an international reputation.

With the 2006 Emirates Melbourne Cup Tour celebrating the theme, ‘The Melbourne Cup: a national icon. Why it stops a nation’, the VRC is inviting cities and towns around Australia and New Zealand boasting a link with the 18-carat gold trophy or strong affection for the Cup to come forward and host a leg of the journey.

Travelling more than 25,000km through Australia and New Zealand, visiting 25 towns, cities and outback centres – the 2005 Tour had a resounding impact on many communities.

The 2006 Emirates Melbourne Cup Tour will commence in late September, making its way to more than 20 cities and towns, before arriving at Flemington on the first Tuesday in November.

Tenders are open to all Australian communities and community groups (with the support of local councils) at the following URL.

Closing date for submissions is 5pm Friday, 28 April.