The numbers may have been restricted due to COVID but the cheers and atmosphere were as great as ever at Newcastle venues for the Melbourne Cup 2021.
In the first major event since lockdown ended last month, punters flocked to venues in style to catch the race that stops the nation.
While all attendees had their own seat at Modus Merewether, keen race watchers were up on their feet to watch Verry Elleegant swept to victory in the main event with Incentivise finishing second and Spanish Mission in third place.
The Greenroof opened up their back car park for the Cup day festivities, while the Lass O'Gowrie at Wickham decided to stay closed for the day in defiance of "gambling and animal cruelty".
