Just in time for Port Macquarie’s own racing carnival, a celebration of the Melbourne Cup is taking place at the Glasshouse Gallery.

The Melbourne Cup trophy of 1888 was known as the Centennial Cup and was commissioned from England. This valuable award is on loan from the National Gallery of Australia and features three magnificent horses cast in solid silver, each weighing 800 grams, mounted on a large silver-plated base. The trophy was particularly large due to the importance of the centenary and because the Melbourne Cup was at the time the most valuable handicap in the world.

1888 was the one hundredth anniversary of British settlement in Australia and, although the various colonies were not yet welded into one federated nation, all the colonies joined in a year of celebrations to mark the first century of the new land.

In Melbourne the climax of the celebrations was the Centennial Fair and the Melbourne Cup.

“As everyone is familiar with the legendary Melbourne Cup race, the trophy has enormous cultural significance,” said Gallery Director Sharni Lloyd. “We are pleased to be able to present this iconic piece of Australian sporting memorabilia to the local community.”

The 1888 Melbourne Cup is on show in the gallery until the 29th of October.