Born and raised on farms in the Riverina, Tom and Emma now call Victoria’s picturesque Barrabool Hills region home with their three children Arabella, Primrose and newborn Henry.
As active racehorse owners, the pair have been Cup Week regulars for more than a decade, from attending the members' car park with friends to cheering home a winner in the famous Flemington Mounting Yard.
After the excitement of the Geelong Cats winning the 2022 AFL Premiership Cup, Tom said he was thrilled to have the opportunity to celebrate trackside and is hopeful his handy sprinter Midwest will run during the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
“Cup Week is always a special time of the year where I’m able to enjoy quality time with my family and friends post footy season and celebrate the best of horse racing, entertainment and hospitality,” Tom said.
“I’m looking forward to attending what is the grand finale of Cup Week in TAB Champions Stakes Day and it is sure to be an epic conclusion to Australia’s greatest week of racing.”
Emma said the pair will use their role as ambassadors to encourage people to join in on the festivities at Flemington and amplify the energy of the carnival and what TAB Champions Stakes Day brings.
“I grew up showing and hacking off the track horses, so I’m incredibly grateful to be able to now live somewhere where I can raise my kids among these beautiful animals and watch them follow in my footsteps. Since Tom and I were teenagers, Champions Stakes Day has been a must-attend event, and we are delighted the carnival will be back in full force and can’t wait to soak up all the fun,” Emma said.
“Cup Week truly has something on offer for everyone, whether it’s cheering on the horses trackside, dabbling in the magnificent food or dressing to impress! We want to encourage people new to the races and those who have been coming for years to get involved as this year is a carnival not to be missed!”
VRC Chief Executive Officer Steve Rosich said the club looks forward to welcoming back VRC members and champions on and off the field, Tom and Emma to the VRC’s stable of ambassadors for the 2022 Melbourne Cup Carnival.
“The Hawkins family are long-standing members of the VRC family and have always brought with them a fun, enthusiastic energy which we look forward to seeing on track again this year,” Mr Rosich said.
“TAB Champions Stakes Day on Saturday 5 November will be the perfect grand finale to Cup Week, with world class racing, epic entertainment and a fantastic food offering set to delight all racegoers.”
For the first time in 2022, the Melbourne Cup Carnival concludes its festivities with TAB Champions Stakes Day, the spring’s ultimate grand finale.
The day features three Group 1 races, each worth A$3 million and designed to determine the best horse in each division: the TAB Champions Stakes (2000m) for middle-distance stars, the Kennedy Champions Mile (1600m) for the milers and the scorching Darley Champions Sprint (1200m) for some of Australia’s fastest horses.
The race day also features Myer Fashions on the Field Alpha Edit for teens aged 14 – 18 years and a family racewear category. TAB Champions Stakes Day promises a relaxed atmosphere where younger racegoers can put their most fashionable foot forward.
The 2022 Melbourne Cup Carnival commences with Penfolds Victoria Derby Day on Saturday 29 October, followed by Lexus Melbourne Cup Day on Tuesday 1 November, Kennedy Oaks Day on Thursday 3 November and TAB Champions Stakes Day on Saturday 5 November.
Melbourne Cup Carnival tickets can be purchased via www.vrc.com.au.
All the action from the 2022 Melbourne Cup Carnival can be seen free to air on Network 10.
