That was was the day the Emirates Melbourne Cup came to town.

Custodians of the cup said the people of Young certainly came out in droves to celebrate the visit - hosting a range of school assemblies, meet and greets and an evening cocktail party.

And awaiting the hundreds of adults, teenagers and children who just wanted to touch the 18 carat gold trophy - worth $175,000 and weighing in at four kilograms - were many sets of white gloves.

Only this year’s winner of the Melbourne Cup can put flesh to gold but its custodians always make sure everyone has a chance to feel its magic.

They always make time in their packed schedule for locals to hold the cup, saying that’s what it was all about.

Young was selected by the Victoria Racing Club (VRC) as one of 33 destinations on this year’s 118 day journey across Australia, New Zealand and for the first time, Malaysia.

One of Australia’s most popular race callers, Bryan Martin, was the VRC’s special guest on Young’s leg of the tour.

With its itinerary kicking off at 8.50am, the cup first visited St Mary’s Primary School, then Hennessy Catholic College, Young Public School and Southern Cross Retirement Village each time including speeches, Q&A sessions and a race call or two.

The visit concluded with a cocktail party at the Empire Hotel, hosted by the Young Turf Club, between 6.30pm and 9pm.

“It is very exciting that an icon like the Melbourne Cup came to Young,” Hennessy student and school leader Sammy Maxwell said.

She said she had so much adrenaline running through her body she couldn’t tell whether the cup was heavier than she thought.

Some Young Public School students asked Bryan some really cute questions like “how many worlds have you been to [on tour]?”, and others forgot their question entirely when it was their turn.

The retirement village decorated their foyer especially for the occasion.

Walter Briggs at the Young Retirement Village said the experience was thrilling.

“It's an opportunity of a lifetime to hold the Melbourne Cup and I feel very privileged to be given the opportunity.”

Resident Millie Baldock said “it's a real experience, it's special. I listen to the Melbourne Cup every year and always go in the sweeps”.

Resident Les Murray is a huge fan of horses and said he's always loved Gai Waterhouse, the late Bart Cummings and Tommy Smith. 

You couldn't wipe the smile off his face when he held the cup on Wednesday.

Young Shire Council’s economic development officer Debbie Evans said the entire community was honoured to be a part of the tour and experience the magic of the Melbourne Cup first hand.

VRC community engagement and programs manager Belinda Meyers - who accompanied Bryan on the tour, along with the cup’s security guard - said they were overwhelmed by the warm welcome they received throughout the day in Young.

"From the school students we met, to the Southern Cross residents and the cocktail party guests in the evening, everyone really embraced the cup's visit and showed such passion for racing and for the stories of the rich history of the Emirates Melbourne Cup,” she said.

“We'd like to thank the Young Shire Council for hosting a brilliant day of events, and also all of the wonderful people we met throughout the day.”

Residents in Young shared their experiences with the cup on social media using #EmiratesMelbourneCup and #PeoplesCup. 

Images from the tour so far can be viewed at: bit.ly/PeoplesCup2015.

The cup will return to Melbourne on Monday, October 26 for a week of Melbourne Cup Carnival celebrations ahead of the 155th Emirates Melbourne Cup on the first Tuesday in November.