Posh wanted to be part of it; instead the Melbourne Cup carnival got Scary.
An Entourage star was a late scratching but an Osbourne and a famous dame did make the trip to Melbourne.
For those people who make a living out of being seen, the place to be at Flemington racecourse is The Birdcage and the exclusive marquees in its "millionaires' row".
Victoria Beckham wanted to come, but apparently left it too late.
"She did make contact with us which again just shows that the Melbourne Cup carnival is really a global event," Victoria Racing Club (VRC) general manager of marketing Fleur Salisbury said.
"Regrettably, due to the late timing we just weren't able to adequately prepare for her visit. We hope that she'll come in the future."
The Birdcage hasn't got back to the heights of 2007, but it has bounced back from a downturn during the global financial crisis.
"Probably we're not back to where we were in, say, 2007 but I'd say we're on our way to getting back there after the GFC," VRC chief executive Dale Monteith said.
Some of the 36 corporate marquees are there purely to entertain customers and friends of the business, not celebrities, socialites and footballers.
Tabcorp ties its long-time membership of the Birdcage with the busiest time of year for its TAB business, which does about $400 million in turnover over the four days at Flemington.
Emirates has spent $5 million in total on its sponsorship and hospitality for the Cup, for which it has naming rights.
"I believe it's good value for money. It's so unique," Emirates divisional senior vice president, corporate communications, Boutros Boutros said.
This year, weather permitting, Emirates will fly an A380 over Flemington before the main event on Tuesday.
Several of the big name stars at this year's carnival hit the Birdcage marquees for Derby Day: Dame Edna Everage, reality TV star Kelly Osbourne and Scary Spice, aka Mel B, aka Melanie Brown.
Entourage star Jeremy Piven had to withdraw because of filming commitments.
Jerry Hall and daughter Georgia May Jagger will be there on Oaks Day, along with Carmen Electra.
On Tuesday, the main stars will be the horses.
Singers Enrique Iglesias and Tina Arena will be there. So too will be Australian actor Liam Hemsworth, though girlfriend Miley Cyrus isn't coming.
There were high hopes that the 150th running of the Melbourne Cup would attract the Queen, an avid horseracing fan and owner.
"We were obviously hopeful but I think due to diary commitments, regrettably she's unable to come," Ms Salisbury said.
"But we'll have so many international visitors and guests here for the Melbourne Cup carnival this year and I'm sure she'll be watching from afar and take a keen interest in the carnival."
