Order before Monday 26 October to have your coasters on the bar for Melbourne Cup day, Tuesday 3 November. Runs of up to 2,000 are dispatched within 48 hours of proof approval.
NOW TAKING ORDERS
Every Cup day it happens around 11am, Tuesday 3 November every year.
Some one realises nobody organised the sweep, and a crumpled sheet of paper starts doing laps of the bar. This year, put the sweep on the coasters.
It’s cheap, it’s easy to run, and the coaster stays on the table all afternoon with your name on it.
How do sweep coasters work?
Print a run of coasters with a big circle on the front marked Your horse. Before the barrier draw, write the numbers 1 to 24 in the circles with a marker, one coaster for each possible starter. The Melbourne Cup field is capped at 24 horses, so that covers every runner.
Guests pick up a coaster with their drink, or buy one at the bar, and the number in the circle is their horse. Jot down who has which number and you’ve got a sweep that sits under every glass in the room.
Would you rather have the numbers printed? Ask us when you request a quote. Each number is a separate design, so we’ll price it for you.
Five ways to use coasters on Cup day
- Run the sweep. A few sets of 24 for the bar, or one set per table if you’re running a function.
- Show your Cup day menu. Lunch special, race day cocktail, kitchen hours. One clear message per side.
- Fashions on the Field voting. A QR code on the back that opens a quick vote. Announce the winner after the last race.
- A ride home reminder. A line like Big day planned? Book your ride home before the race goes a long way, and it’s on the table all afternoon.
- Office party take-home. If you’re running a workplace sweep, coasters with your logo and the date make a better souvenir than a paper hat.
What should go on a sweep coaster?
- A big circle or box for the horse number. It’s the most important thing on the coaster, so make it the biggest.
- Your venue or company name and logo.
- The race: Melbourne Cup, Tuesday 3 November.
- On the back: how the sweep works, the prize and any rules.
Leave everything else off. The mistake we see most often on coasters is too much text, too small to read. A sweep coaster has one job. Our coaster design dos and don’ts cover the rest.
A quick note on the rules: sweeps are covered by state gaming laws, and what you can charge and offer as a prize differs between states, and between a workplace and a licensed venue. Check your state’s rules before you sell entries.
How many coasters do I need, and what do they cost?
For a sweep, 500 coasters is plenty for most venues. That’s about 20 full sets of 24. Printed on one side, 500 coasters cost $150 + GST, or $160 + GST printed on both sides, round or square.
Want extra for the rest of the racing season? 1,000 square coasters cost the same $150 + GST single sided. There are no setup fees, and delivery is quoted with your order. Full pricing is in our custom coaster price guide.
When do I need to order?
Order by Monday 18 October. Proofs usually come back within 1 to 2 hours of us getting your artwork. Once you approve, runs of up to 2,000 coasters are dispatched within 48 hours, and delivery takes 1 to 2 days to most major cities.
No artwork? No worries. Send us your logo and colours and our design team will lay it out. Simple designs are free, and so is design for new customers. Order a short run of 500 coasters and they’ll be with you well before the barriers open.
Frequently Asked Questions
24. The Melbourne Cup field is capped at 24 starters, so number your coasters 1 to 24. If a horse is scratched on the day, your sweep rules decide whether that number is redrawn or refunded.
Yes. Our coasters are printed on 365gsm or 390gsm beer coaster board, which takes a permanent marker well. Leave a plain white circle or box in the design so the number stands out.
If you leave the date off the design, yes. A general race day coaster works for the rest of the spring racing carnival and any other race day you run next year.
