Today is Cup Day. Melbourne Cup. The final field of 24 horses ran around the Flemington Race Track until they clocked up 3200m. It’s in its 158th year.
It’s a big deal here. It’s a public holiday. And it’s known as ‘the race that stops a nation’.
Turns out, horse racing isn’t that different from the workplace. Here’s my field of 14:
| The 2019 Melbourne Cup | The Workplace |
| This year there are only two Australian horses running. | It’s a global marketplace. |
| There’s only room for 24 starters. | Not everyone gets to the top. |
| It’s the richest handicap two mile race in the world (with $7.75m in prize money this year). | It’s worth getting to the top, at least financially. |
| The horses range from young (3 years) to old (8 years). | It’s inter-generational in the office too. |
| Youngest does not mean fastest. Horses take time to be at their best. | Same for humans, it’s never too late. |
| Good breeding helps. | Having raw ability and talent is an advantage. |
| They always talk about the horse’s connections. | They say your network is your net worth. |
| Nothing beats preparation. | Yep, nothing beats preparation. |
| The barrier draw can be crucial – wide barriers suit those who like to make their run later on. | Music to all late bloomers. |
| Male horses (stallions/geldings/colts) win more often than females (mares/fillies). | Unfortunately true at work too. |
| It’s handicapped so the competition is as even as possible. | I wish it were a meritocracy but it’s not. |
| Silks – referring to the colors the jockey wears. | It can help to look the part. |
| We haven’t been training our horses for longer distances – it takes longer to start earning. It’s starting to change. | Again, music for late bloomers. |
| The best trainers are celebrities here. | Do you have the best trainer for you? |
If you feel like you haven’t run your race yet, there are a few entries here for late bloomers. There’s plenty you can do.
If you’ve had success and still want to be in it, don’t rest on your laurels. If you do, I fear you’ll end up at the back of the field.
But never forget your successes. They serve to remind you that you’ve got what it takes.
Remember them while you’re running your own race this week.
We’d love to know what they are, so Vow and Declare them here. Vow and Declare just happens to be the name of the horse that won this year! Simply scroll down and Leave a Reply in the comments section.
Image by Clarence Alford from Pixabay
