Hunter's punters turn one on for 2022 Melbourne Cup celebrations

Gold Trip wins the 2022 Melbourne Cup

PUNTERS absolutely turned one on for the 2022 Melbourne Cup with no shortage of glitz and glamour across Newcastle.

Pubs were packed to the rafters with fabulous fascinators and boisterous bettors hoping to pick a winner for the race that stops the nation.

In a surprise result, Mark Zahra rode Gold Trip to victory in the $8 million Melbourne Cup with an impressive run down the home straight.

At Newcastle's Honeysuckle Hotel, Karla Riordan and Hollie Summers were stoked to be among the action for the first 'normal' Melbourne Cup celebration since COVID-19.

"It's hairdressers' picnic day technically, so everyone comes here," Ms Riordan said.

"This has always been our local, I used to live in here and we always come here - the staff are lovely and they make us feel welcome.

"It was really tough the last few years with Melbourne Cup being such a big day for us, it's nice to not have to sit down the whole time and to be able to get amongst it - it feels like things are back to normal."

Matthew Stevenson watching the race. Picture by Marina Neil.

Emma Critchley, Chloe Law, Danni Cruickshank and Hayley Richards. Picture by Peter Lorimer.

Isobelle Nee and Kieran Wyse at the Junction Hotel. Picture by Jonathan Carroll.

Karla Riordan and Hollie Summers enjoy the Melbourne Cup festivities at the Honeysuckle Hotel. Picture by Peter Lorimer.

Leoni Mallise, Tori Hughes, Elisha Merrick and Debbie Herbert. Picture by Marina Neil.

Helen de With, Tracy Keegan, Melissa Milton and Jane Slater at the Junction Hotel. Picture by Jonathan Carroll.

Tracey Agosti, Eboni Smith and Mark James at Honeysuckle Hotel. Picture by Peter Lorimer.

Daniela Razmovski and Amy Jurkiewicz. Picture by Marina Neil.

Crowds hoped to pick a winner at the Melbourne Cup celebrations. Picture by Peter Lorimer.

Gillian Summers, Donna Ireland and Sam Worth at the Junction Hotel. Picture by Jonathan Carroll.

Tom Bourke, Carlos Correia, Brett Morrow and Steve Martin. Picture by Peter Lorimer.

Rebecca Baker and Melissa Newman. Picture by Peter Lorimer.

Rhianon Graves, Katie Freeman and Sam Binkin. Picture by Marina Neil.

The capacity crowd rocked to live music during the Melbourne Cup festivities at the Honeysuckle Hotel. Picture by Peter Lorimer.

The ticketed areas at the Honeysuckle Hotel sold out weeks in advance. Picture by Peter Lorimer.

Matthew Stevenson watching the race. Picture by Marina Neil.

Jessica Jones, Tori Hughes, Hailee Walker and Olivia Flynn. Picture by Peter Lorimer.

Plenty of punters pulled up a stump at the Honeysuckle Hotel. Picture by Peter Lorimer.

Sheydin Thompson, Jordan Duggan and Talia Michelle. Picture by Peter Lorimer.

Imogen McCulloch and Sophie Davidson at the Junction Hotel. Picture by Jonathan Carroll.

Karla Riordan and Hollie Summers enjoy the Melbourne Cup festivities at the Honeysuckle Hotel. Picture by Peter Lorimer.

Crowds gathered at the Greenroof Hotel for Melbourne Cup. Picture by Marina Neil.

Mel Price and Jack McGrath. Picture by Marina Neil.

Crowds watched the big race at the Greenroof Hotel. Picture by Marina Neil.

Crowds watch the Melbourne Cup at the Greenroof Hotel. Picture by Marina Neil.

Matthew Stevenson watching the race. Picture by Marina Neil.

Crowds watched the Melbourne Cup at the Greenroof Hotel. Picture by Marina Neil.

Crowds watched the Melbourne Cup at the Greenroof Hotel. Picture by Marina Neil.

Crowds watched the Melbourne Cup at the Greenroof Hotel. Picture by Marina Neil.

Bec Shepherd who won best dressed, Bianca Boulton, Sam Worth who won best millinery at the Junction Hotel. Picture by Jonathan Carroll.

Karen Major, Carla Pilarski, Teresa Keppie, Jann Murray, Carmel Gibson and Hollie Enright at the Junction Hotel. Picture by Jonathan Carroll.

Emily Keogh and Bianca Keating at the Junction Hotel. Picture by Jonathan Carroll.

Jess Evans, Sophie Davidson, Sophia de With, Imogen McCulloch and Chloe Moore at the Junction Hotel. Picture by Jonathan Carroll.

Crowds celebrated at the Junction Hotel. Picture by Jonathan Carroll.

Sophia de With at the Junction Hotel. Picture by Jonathan Carroll.

Crowds watched the Melbourne Cup at the Junction Hotel. Picture by Jonathan Carroll.

Isobelle Nee and Kieran Wyse at the Junction Hotel. Picture by Jonathan Carroll.

Isobelle Nee and Kieran Wyse at the Junction Hotel. Picture by Jonathan Carroll.

Crowds watched the Melbourne Cup at the Junction Hotel. Picture by Jonathan Carroll.

Crowds watched the Melbourne Cup at the Junction Hotel. Picture by Jonathan Carroll.

Crowds watched the Melbourne Cup at the Junction Hotel. Picture by Jonathan Carroll.

Sam Worth watches the Melbourne Cup at the Junction Hotel. Picture by Jonathan Carroll.

Crowds watched the Melbourne Cup at the Junction Hotel. Picture by Jonathan Carroll.

Crowds watched the Melbourne Cup at the Junction Hotel. Picture by Jonathan Carroll.

Crowds watched the Melbourne Cup at the Junction Hotel. Picture by Jonathan Carroll.

The race itself drew plenty of spectators out, as Emissary claimed second and High Emocean climbed the ranks from last to finish third.

Favourite Deauville Legend, which closed at $4.60, took out fourth place at Flemington on Tuesday.

Win or lose, Honeysuckle Hotel manager Sean Turnbull said he was stoked with the turnout.

"I was a bit unsure, it's been about three years since we've done a really big event, but we quite often get a lot of people come over later from other pubs," he said.

"We're running around 60 staff at the moment and 20 of those would have been hired in the last three or four weeks ready for summer, because from this weekend onwards it gets really busy.

"It's one of our biggest days, we have about six really big days and Melbourne Cup is one of them, along with New Year's Eve, Australia Day and Anzac Day - it's really about exposing people to our venue."

He said over the years Melbourne Cup celebrations have continued to grow, so it was no surprise the pre-booked areas sold out weeks in advance.

"We have built our Melbourne Cup celebrations over the years to be bigger and better, and it's always a great day at the pub, but myself and the team are particularly grateful to be hosting it this year," he said.

"It's wonderful to help bring people together, and it's exciting to see friends, family and locals connect with each other after two years of COVID restrictions."

Gold Trip's thumping win came after the six-year-old finished second in the Caulfield Cup a fortnight ago, before running ninth in the Cox Plate last week.

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