Glamorous race-goers get into the spirit of Derby Day as celebrations for the 2024 Melbourne Cup Carnival kick-off in style READ MORE: Nine star Francesca Cumani steals the show in stunning black and white gown for Derby Day By Olivia Day For Daily Mail Australia Published: 01:07, 2 November 2024 | Updated: 01:28, 2 November 2024 e-mail 2 View comments Advertisement Thousands of revellers have hit the ground running as Derby Day celebrations kick off in Melbourne . Glamorous attendees were dressed to the nines as the 2024 Melbourne Cup Carnival got underway on Saturday ahead of the race thats stops a nation on Tuesday . Men and women of all ages were pictured arriving at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne on Saturday with many adhering to the event's traditional black and white dress code.
Australia's Olympic and Paralympic heroes will be VIPS in the prestigious birdcage with Michelle Payne, Ariarne Titmus and Jamie Kah officially launching the kick-off event. Channel Nine star Francesca Cumani turned heads in an off-the-shoulder A-line dress which gave her a beautifully classic silhouette as she lead celebrity arrivals. Derby Day's history begins across the pond more than two centuries ago in 1787 when the Earl of Derby's horse won the race while wearing black and white colours.
In 1910, King Edward died and in true Edwardian fashion racegoers swapped out their best clothes for black, the colour traditionally associated with mourning. Well-dressed revellers flooded Flemingto.
