The First Tuesday in November

Well it's here again, the horse race that stops a nation. That's right you heard me correctly, Its the first Tuesday in November and in Australia that can only mean one thing.............Melbourne Cup Day.

The Melbourne Cup is THE most important event on Australia's racing calendar and the only horse race in the world that warrants a public holiday. Over the last few years The Cup has also become more important world wide, with horses being transported from all corners of the globe to compete in Australia's big race. This year is the 139th running of the Melbourne Cup, which is held at the Flemington Race Course. The race was originally run over a two mile course but since Australia's conversion to the metric system in 1972 the race is now marginally shorter at 3200meters.

The very first Melbourne Cup, which was actually run on a Thursday, in 1801 was won by a horse called Archer. He won from a field of 17 horses and the prize money was £1420 as well as a gold watch. This year's Melbourne Cup was won by Rogan Josh from a field of 24 thoroughbred horses and the prize money was a mere $3,000,000AUD. It was also trainer, Bart Cummings record breaking 11th Melbourne Cup win.

However, you would could be forgiven for thinking that The Melbourne Cup is just another horse race, but don't bet on it. The Melbourne Cup is so much more. It is a day to see and be seen, a day for style and extravagance and a day to perhaps go a little wild.

For the dedicated race goer, the day usually starts at 7:30 a.m. with a chicken and champagne breakfast in the Flemington Racetrack car park. Some would be race goers have been known never to make it into the race track, not even for the big race which is usually held at around 3:20 p.m. Fun, fashion , good food and fine wine are the order of the day for most of those at the course. Cup day is the day when almost anything goes as far as fashion is concerned. The social set will usually turn up in their most expensive, chic ensemble, often especially made just for this one day, complete with matching hat and accessories. While the male members will be attired in suits. However for your ordinary race goer.......well just about ANYTHING goes.

It is not unusual to see women dressed up as nuns, quietly sipping on a glass or two of champagne, while the men wander around in gorilla suits, or Tails jackets with a pair of shorts and work boots rather than the more traditional long trousers underneath. Some women prefer to swan around the track in beautiful dresses that look like they are straight out of Gone With The Wind, while for others the more extravagant and out of this world the better. In fact it was at the Melbourne Cup that the world's first supermodel, English born, Twiggy wore "that" dress that so shocked the establishment. Fancy turning up in public in a sleeveless dress with no gloves , no hat and NO stockings!

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