TAB Betiquette – Spring Racing 2014

It is a truth universally acknowledged that I attend the races for the fashions, not the horses. In all my years of visiting Flemington, I am usually glued to the Myer Fashion on the Field stage, perusing the frocks and shocks that pass me by and writing a wish list in my head of all the stores I really need to visit to stock up my wardrobe.

sarah and jaimeeWith the TABs Jaimee Rodgers

I’m hoping this year will be different. You see, on Monday I met Jaimee Rodgers (famous TAB ad girl) and she shared a few tips and tricks about how to place a bet for this racing season. It was a truly delightful experience – all cupcakes and champagne in the Chairmans Lounge at Flemington – and I got to hold the golden cup to boot!

So, how does one place a bet on the Cup, or any other race over the Spring Racing Carnival? I’d suggest you start with a budget. Choose your spend for the day and stick to it.

KARON PHOTOGRAPHY -3699Thats the Melbourne Cup!! Wearing top by Barkins, skirt by Chicwish and shoes by Kmart. The glove goes with the cup… 

I like an each way bet generally (a win or a place, although $1 each way is not usually particularly profitable) but it means if your horse comes in 1st, 2nd or 3rd, you might make a pretty penny.

An Exacta, Trifecta and First 4 ask you to choose the first two, three or four horses in the right order, while a Quinella asks that you only pick two, that can finish in any order.

I personally liked the sound of a Box Trifecta – pick 3 horses that can finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd in any order – but of course the odds change according to the risk.

cupcakes

My thanks to the TAB and VRC for the invitation to the inaugural Betiquette luncheon. I do hope this is a Spring Racing carnival tradition in the making!

PS Gamble responsibly! x

  • 10 years ago
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Oaks Day

One for the ladies, Oaks Day was humid and overcast as I made my way to Flemington for the third day of the Cup Carnival. Wearing the girliest of all outfits (my cousin has dubbed me a ‘forest fairy;), I was hopeful the rain would hold off until our work was done, and that we’d have plenty of time post shift to enjoy the hospitality of the Birdcage.

Sarah Kempson SchweppesLeft: At home before heading to the races, wearing Morgan and Taylor floral headband, Target dress (Psst! It’s on sale!!) and Sachi shoes.
Right: In the Schweppes Bar, looking rather windswept and tired at the end of the day! 

Oaks Day is all about the fashions, with the National winner for Womens Racewear at Myer Fashions on the Field being crowned. Representing Victoria, 19 year old Chloe took out the sash, with oodles of prizes including a $95k Lexus, a holiday, a Myer shopping spree, multiple TVs, luggage and whole stack more. Chloe has a serious dedication to the clothes – hailing from the Northern Territory, Chloe flew to Melbourne on Tuesday, won the Cup Day fashion competition, headed home for an exam before jetting back to Flemington for Thursdays final. Just wow!!

Chloe Moo LexusNational Fashions on the Field 2013 Winner, Chloe, is awarded the Lexus!

Speaking of exhausted, I didn’t think I was but an embarrassing little fainting spell says otherwise. In the manner of shoeless drunk girls on the lawn at the end of the day, I collapsed before lunch, smack into a lineup of fashion contestants waiting to go onstage. A bruised knee and a bruised ego, the team at MSS security and St Johns ambulance, as well as my MiNC colleagues, were all wonderful in making sure I was all ok before I resumed my position on the VIP door. Time for an iron levels check up I think (I promise I’d eaten breakfast and all that jazz!!).

Jeff Banks and Sarah KempsonWith Fashions on the Field host and man about town, London suit designer Jeff Banks.

Following the end of a freezing shift on the door, Olivia and I headed to the Birdcage for a somewhat more subdued experience than I had planned! We arrived at Bar Schweppes – presented by Broadsheet – looking for a seat, a heater, and some food. Schweppes had all three, and the food was amazing. Morsels cooked up by Melbourne’s best eateries (and cocktails from our most talented bartenders!!) were served and consumed immediately and I was thrilled to note the table menus also listed which of the items were gluten free! HUGE thumbs up to these guys and a massive thanks for the corn chip encrusted chicken and chips, really hitting the spot at the end of the day.

Sarah Kempson, Olivia Nunn, Emma BoggiL-R: Sarah, Emma and Olivia. Emma wears Manning Cartell; Olivia wears Rodeo Show with Adorn Collection Millinery.

Three days down and one to go – sadly the weather for Stakes Day is looking less than pleasant so an outfit change is in order!

  • 11 years ago
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Melbourne Cup Day

The first Tuesday in November dawned bright and beautiful, and I was looking forward to another fab day at the track with Myer Fashions on the Field. Heading in alone whilst Olivia had to dart back to Adelaide for important racing duties, it was easy to look around at the gorgeously frocked up punters and remember just how lucky we are to get a public holiday for a horse race, and that its so accessible to the masses – 100,000 people turned up to Flemington to celebrate the race that stops the nation.

Sarah Kempson and Emma Heaslip Cup Day

Emma and I were left to manage the VIPs on our own and on a day with Women’s Racewear, and the Designer Award, there were lots of people to sort out. A huge thanks to Sol Hermana, for my delightfully fun Sangria dress, and to Sachi Shoes and Morgan and Taylor for my accessories. My clutch is a Kmart purse! Emma also looks divine in Ginger and Smart.

Sarah Kempson Cup Day

After the official proceedings concluded, our team headed over to the Birdcage, where we sipped mojitos in the Herald Sun marquee. In residence was Wendy Tuohy, who I had the please of meeting at Melbourne Writer’s Club a few months back, and who I was thrilled to assist in organising headwear for her first Melbourne Cup Day Marquee. Wendy wears a Morgan and Taylor fascinator, and wrote about her Cup Day tips on her blog, The Perch.

Herald SunThe Herald Sun sign, adorned with newspaper flowers!

Wendy Tuohy and Sarah Kempson

A few cocktails later and we were really starting to have a good time, so it was back to the carpark for us, for macarons and champers; pringles and peppermint tea. We really know how to party!

Sarah Kempson and Emma Heaslip

  • 11 years ago
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Derby Day at the Spring Carnival

It felt like I blinked and it was November. All of a sudden, it was the start of the Cup Carnival; Derby Day was upon us and with it, the most divine weather for a race day we’ve had in quite some time.

Sarah Kempson Derby DayOn the Myer Fashions on the Field Catwalk

Having been TERRIBLY disorganised this year, I was still deciding on an outfit the night before the event. Testing frocks twelve hours before you are due at the track is never a good idea, but the wonder that is my wardrobe spilt forth several options, with the final decision being the tried and tested Dion Lee for Cue number. With millinery provided by Morgan and Taylor and shoes by Sachi, I procured a clutch from Kmart and earrings for a pop of colour from Design Studio at Myer. I was ready to roll.

Sarah Kempson and Olivia NunnWith Olivia in the Myer Fashions on the Field VIP enclosure
(Olivia wears HarryWho with millinery by Adorn and shoes by Mollini)

It was great to be back on track with my Fashions on the Field VIP team – clearly something Olivia said here was hilarious (and I don’t think we’d had any champagne at this point either!) The weather didn’t disappoint, and neither did the calibre of the Fashions on the Field for 2013.

Myer Fashions on the Field winner Derby Day

The gorgeous winner, Ashley Albanese, made her dress from leather and only finished it at 5am! She will be on Oaks Day to vie for the title of Victorian champion and be in the running for a stack of amazing prizes, including a Luxus!

Sarah Kempson Olivia Nunn Emma Heaslip Derby DayWith Olivia and Emma – we make a great looking team!

Another fantastic race day is done – one down, three to go!

  • 11 years ago
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