The Race That Stops A Nation: The Melbourne Cup

EFFICIENT taking home the Cup, with PURPLE MOON a close second.

Facts:
* Cup Day is to Melbourne what the Stampede is to Calgary.
* It’s an unofficial public holiday for Melbourne. The CBD pretty much shuts down.
* It takes place on the first Tuesday in November at Flemington Racecourse.
* Some figures suggest that over 85% of Australians bet on the Melbourne Cup.
* It is the longest (at 3.2 km) handicap race in the world.
…and the richest: Note: Handicap Racing means that weights are assigned to each horse to equalize their chances of winning (a real “fair-go”)
* Phar Lap, Australia’s hero horse, won the cup 3 times in a row. This is Phar Lap's heart on display in the National Museum in Canberra.
* It’s an excuse for Australians to dress up to the nines! The women pull out all the stops and invest in a new outfit: frocks, shoes, handbags, accessories…and last, but by NO MEANS least….hats!


* It’s also an excuse for a huge piss up. Many Aussies get off their faces with champers on Cup Day! Here are some photos of the more casual crowd watching the races at Gun Island Hotel in St. Kilda.