This year's Melbourne Cup will take place Tuesday.GETTY IMAGES
A third of the 24-strong field for this year's Melbourne Cup is "likely to come from Britain and Ireland, the majority of whom will have flown to Australia in an adapted jumbo jet" on first-class return tickets costing £60,000 ($76,600), according to Mark Souster of the LONDON TIMES. The scale of the northern hemisphere's presence in the race "emphasises the growing globalisation of the sport." With the quality of horses competing, there is "a need to transport top thoroughbreds across the world in the safest, fastest and best way possible." It is a "complex and logistically challenging business" in which Int'l Racehorse Transport is a market leader. It has shipped 38 runners from the U.K., Ireland and France on four flights for Melbourne's showcase Spring Carnival. The Melbourne Cup, which will take place on Tuesday, is worth A$7.3M ($5.2M), of which the winner receives A$4M ($2.8M). Even the 12th-placed horse gets A$150,000 ($106,100), which "should cover an owner's costs." Other build-up races also offer "rich rewards." IRT U.K. & Europe Managing Dir Jim Paltridge said that owners can choose between first or business class, which costs £40,000 ($51,100) for the 12,000-mile journey (LONDON TIMES, 10/31).
