Racing's big day out for young and old

In fact, she has made a ritual of it every Emirates Stakes day since arriving from Canada with her Australian husband James five years ago. On the last day of cup week, the Embeltons park the Volvo in their prestigious spot "on the rails", lay a tablecloth on the vehicle's open hatch, arrange a vase of flowers and buffet of home-made food, and sit back to sip and wait for their dozen or so guests to arrive. And, it doesn't take long. Family, friends and clusters of children in Sunday-best frocks and smart little shorts and shirts come laden with their own contributions to the picnic.

Today's Emirates Stakes day is the laid-back, "family friendly" end of cup week when Melbourne seems to draw breath and Flemington's emphasis shifts from schmoozing and boozing to a gentler kind of fun. After a week of culinary micro-masterpieces in the Birdcage, and hot dogs and chips on the lawns, it's also a markedly different menu "on the rails": simple picnic food and an elegant sufficiency of alcohol. (A glass or two of bubbles will often do.)

"One of the reasons we came back [to Australia] was the races, especially stakes day," Mrs Embelton says.

Her three children are under five but have been prepared as carefully as any A-list celebrity for the day. Even baby Charlotte, six months, gets a racewear outfit, albeit, a hand-me-down from her big sister.

Glamour is just as vital to Emirates Stakes as it is to Crown Oaks, particularly for the day's infamous, roving bands of teenaged boys and girls.

"The kids love the day," Mrs Embelton says. "They love seeing the horses, the pony rides, the glitter, the face painting."

Her eldest child, four-year-old Annabelle picked her own orange, polka-dot dress by Seed to wear. And although the annual Emirates Stakes Fashions on the Field competition is not on her radar yet, according to Mrs Embelton: "It won't be long before it is."

Judy Romano, of Emirates, reported 1080 children entered the competition online and will compete in categories from six to 17 years, for prizes including trips to Dubai.

The Queen may be a special guest at next year's 150th running of the Melbourne Cup. Premier John Brumby today said protocols prevented him saying if the monarch had been officially invited to the cup but he had discussed the event when he met the Queen last month. Mr Brumby's comments came at the launch of the 2010 Melbourne Cup, where organisers announced a $500,000 increase in prizemoney to $6 million and the return to the 1930s-design trophy won by Phar Lap.

ENTERTAINING

ON THE RAILS

Lori Embelton plans ahead for 10 adults and six kids, parks the Volvo in space 101 on the rails, and sets a table on the hatchback with cloth, cutlery, crockery, flowers and:

4 bottles champagne,

12 beers,

4 bottles water,

2 bottles soda, cordial for the kids,

25 chicken sandwich fingers,

24 slices quiche,

1 medium sushi platter,

1 dozen muffins,

15 appleberry slices,

1 wheel of brie,

1 wedge of old cheddar, crackers,

1 bowl quacamole dip and chips,

1 dozen cupcakes,

1 dozen folding chairs.