Port Douglas was a buzz of excitement today while many of our venues hosted their own 2015 Melbourne Cup Day celebrations for women and men dressed in their finest, all vying to be favourites for the 155th Melbourne Cup.

As for favourites, today’s winning horse Prince of Penzance was ridden by female jockey Michelle Payne who has made history as the first woman jockey to win the Melbourne Cup.

Michelle Payne also had the opportunity to tell everyone it was a dream come true since she was five years old and knew then what the Melbourne Cup was.

She was reported as saying she was proud to prove people wrong in a sport she described as a “chauvinistic sport”.  In an interview she said “I want to say to everyone else, get stuffed, because women can do anything and we can beat the world.”

Coming in second was Max Dynamite and third Criterion.  Sadly though three time Melbourne Cup runner up Red Cadeaux broke down on the track and did not finish the race due to injury.

A recent report stated that he is alive and responding well, has been eating hay and drinking fluids, however it is the end of this racing career.  Based on last year’s Melbourne Cup's fatal ending for Admire Rakti and Araldo, the future for Red Cadeaux is still not entirely certain.

In the meantime, Port Douglas was celebrating in style and Newsport took the time to catch up with the Melbourne Cup revellers at various venues.  See our photo gallery below.