Rip Curl Owner’s Horse Just Won The Biggest Race In Australia

They call it the race that stops the nation. 

But in reality, the Melbourne Cup only interrupts a small percentage of Australia’s denizens. And the only thing it really interrupts them from is sobriety (and financial stability). Tens of thousands of people gather at the famous Flemington Racecourse to dress in their nicest garb, consume fermented beverages and wager hard-earned dollars on the fate of thoroughbred horses. And if their name is Brian Singer — co-founder and owner of Rip Curl — they win lots of money. 

Singer is a syndicate owner of this year’s Melbourne Cup winner, Rekindling. Surprising? It shouldn’t be. Singer’s been in the game for years and owned a piece of last year’s winning steed, Almandin, too. Matter of fact, he’s the part-owner of five of the horses that raced in this year’s Melbourne Cup. 

In an interview with the Geelong Advertiser before the race, Singer hinted that he had a good feeling about the semi-longshot Rekindling. 

While Singer is undoubtedly singing, the Sydney Morning Herald reminds us of the darker, albeit, I piss money, losing side of the cup. “For all those mug punters tearing up their tickets in tears after the big race should spare a thought for the ultimate Cup tragic, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. 

His United Arab Emirates airline provides the prize money and the best marquee, he has spent roughly $1 billion building a racing empire to win the Cup and he has come up short, again, with his sole ride in the race Hartnell, coming in 20th in a field of 23. It reported a loss of more than $91 million. Up from a loss of $55.7 million the prior year.”

Now, what does this mean for surfing? Not much. Unless you consider the possibility of Singer employing jockey Corey Brown to straddle Gabriel Medina’s back all the way to a potential World Title next month. Which is only fair considering John John will have the surf world’s entire Caucasian population riding on his.