"We are delighted the Cup is coming to Hawke's Bay because it gives our community a unique opportunity to celebrate our region's rich racing history."
This year marks the centenary of the Hawke's Bay owned and trained Sasanof winning the 1916 Melbourne Cup.
"We have a wonderful opportunity to bring the 1916 and 2016 Cups together to commemorate 100 years of Hawke's Bay's involvement," Mr Castles said.
Racing royalty joined today's launch celebrations, including 2015 Emirates Melbourne Cup winning trainer Darren Weir and strapper Stevie Payne, 2015 Emirates Melbourne Cup winning horse Prince of Penzance and Flemington Ambassador Georgia Connolly.
For the first time the 'People's Cup' has been manufactured using gold mined from West Wyalong in regional NSW, Australia, a destination of this year's Tour, and the launch welcomed the Cup's new manufacturer ABC Bullion to the Flemington family.
VRC Chief Executive, Mr Simon Love, said this year the Tour will celebrate a heightened enthusiasm for racing amongst community groups far and wide following Michelle Payne's triumphant Emirates Melbourne Cup victory in 2015.
Since its inaugural year, the Tour has travelled more than 456,000 kilometres and visited more than 333 regional, rural and metropolitan destinations, providing communities with a once-in-a-life opportunity to experience firsthand the magic of the Emirates Melbourne Cup.
