Melbourne Cup fans left fuming after confusing TV move backfires

Some racing fans who inadvertently missed watching the Melbourne Cup live have taken to social media to vent their frustrations after believing the race was being shown on Channel 7 instead of Channel 10.

Though the rights to broadcast the Cup have been held by 10 for several years now, Channel 7's broadcast of races from Randwick on Tuesday left some fans confused.

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When 3pm rolled around and Channel 7's broadcast hadn't switched to Flemington, many were puzzled as to which network the 3200m classic was actually being shown on.

Channel 10 has held the rights since 2019 after agreeing to a five-year deal to show the Cup, with that deal set to end after next year.

The network previously held the broadcast rights from 1978 to 2001, before Channel 7 took over the coverage.

With racing being shown on two major free-to-air networks, more than a few fans were caught out by the fact that they were looking at Randwick and not Flemington, with plenty heading to social media to either have a laugh at their own expense or point out the potential confusion.

Eddie McGuire led Channel 10's coverage of the Melbourne Cup, signing a short deal with the network in order to do so between his responsibilities at Channel 9.

Golden Trip claimed the victory for trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, with jockey Mark Zahra on board.

Zahra's interview after the race won the hearts of many has he explained what he was thinking as he approached the line, simply hoping closing rivals would 'p*ss off' as they closed down late.

It was too late for said rivals, as Golden Trip came home strong ahead of Emissary and High Emocean to win the 162nd running of the Melbourne Cup.

Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Mark Zahra's hilarious comments

Winning the 3200m classic has often brought out the rawest of emotions in jockeys as they are interviewed on the course after finishing, and Zahra was no exception.

Describing the moment he passed the post as 'unbelievable', Zahra said the final 100m of the race was completely nerve-wracking.

It was the element of humour he threw in that won him plenty of fans on social media.

“I feel like crying. It’s unbelievable,” Zahra said.

“I was hoping no-one would come near me. I was thinking just piss off! It’s just elation when I crossed the line.”

His post-race celebrations continued after he'd dismounted, with fans appreciating his down-to-earth response to winning one of the most famous horse races in the world.

Zahra's win in 2022 marks a remarkable turnaround from the position he found himself in just over a year ago, when he was suspended from racing for three months just prior to the spring carnival after lying about his presence at a house party with several other jockeys in August last year, during Melbourne's COVID-19 lockdown.

The 40-year-old was present at the Morninton Peninsula get together which also saw Jamie Kah, Ethan Brown, Ben Melham and apprentice jockey Celine Gaudray suspended for breaching lockdown restrictions.

The controversy resulted in Zahra missing the ride on Very Ellegant, who went on to win the 2021 Melbourne Cup - a twist of fate he said left him devastated.

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