THE "people's cup" awarded to the jockey who wins the race that stops the nation has lifted the spirits of the Gannawarra Shire.

The Gannawarra region has a special connection to the Melbourne Cup, with Kerang jockey Jye McNeil winning last year's race aboard Twilight Payment.

On Thursday, Kerang was the last stop for the 19th annual Melbourne Cup Tour, which sees the trophy travel to 24 rural a...