The Melbourne Cup is known as ‘the race that stops a nation.’ One of Australia’s most loved and iconic world-class events, the Melbourne Cup is part of a larger event, the Melbourne Cup Carnival that runs over four days at the pristine Flemington Racecourse. Racing a distance of 3,200 metres, it’s a test of endurance for Australian and International thoroughbreds.
Held annually on the first Tuesday of November, the Melbourne Cup is steeped in history. Established in 1861, this prestigious race has grown into a cultural phenomenon, drawing around 100,000 spectators and millions of viewers worldwide. The event has become more than just a race day with visitors enjoying fashions on the field, great entertainment and plenty of fabulous food.
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The Melbourne Cup captures the thrill of horse racing while creating a vibrant social atmosphere, where fashion, food, and festivities abound. More than just a race, The Melbourne Cup embodies the Australian spirit.
Across the nation, friends, families, workmates and communities gather to don their fancy outfits and even fancier hats. For some, a flutter at the TAB or buying a ticket in a work or shop sweepstakes is a cherished annual tradition.
Melbourne Cup Day is the time to enjoy a long lunch leading up to the big race, and the sense of anticipation and excitement as the clock ticks closer to the start of the big race.
From a pub lunch in a tiny outback town to a black-tie affair in a high-end city hotel, it’s an opportunity to escape the ‘everyday’ and enjoy a uniquely Aussie blend of competition and camaraderie, celebration and commiseration.
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The Melbourne Cup has become a part of Melbourne and Australian culture. The first Melbourne Cup was attended by 4,000 men and women and won by a horse named Archer who also won the following year. In 1869, The Victorian Racing Club introduced the four-day Spring Racing Carnival format. The following year, the youngest ever jockey Peter St Albans riding Briseis took first place at just under 13.
The largest ever field of 39 runners was contested in 1890 and in 1930, the legendary Phar Lap won his first Melbourne Cup. In 1972, the race distance was updated from two miles to 3,200 metres, shortening the distance by 18.6 metres.
In 2005 Makybe Diva became the first horse to win three times and 2015 saw the first women jockey win the race. Michelle Payne on Prince of Penzance created history and at odds of 100–1.
Victoria Racing Club (VRC) member and steward Frederick Standish is credited with the idea for a high-profile, two-mile race called the Melbourne Cup. His idea came to fruition in 1861 when the VRC ran the first Melbourne Cup race.
At that first race, 17 starters raced for a £710 prize and a hand-beaten gold watch, winner takes all. As a handicap race, the Melbourne Cup introduced a level of speculation that the club hoped would attract more entries, and therefore higher prize money.
The Melbourne Cup hands over $14 million in prize money and the impressive gold Melbourne Cup trophy, valued at $250,000. The winning jockey and trainer receive smaller versions of the cup worth $10,000 each and the winning strapper takes home a trophy worth $5,000.
Melbourne Cup Day is a public holiday for those working within the Melbourne metropolitan area and some parts of regional Victoria. Federal public servants observe the first Tuesday in November as a holiday in the entire state of Victoria.
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We are a Green Travel Leader. This is awarded to businesses which have consistently proven their commitment to sustainable tourism management over ten years.
As a Sustianable Tourism accredited business, we are proud to offer engaging tourism experiences that follow sound sustainability practices and environmental appreciation.
Quality Tourism accredited businesses like Fun Over 50 lead the way by offering the highest industry standards of customer service, satisfaction, reliability, and ethical practices.
We are committed to operating in ways that respect and reinforce Indigenous cultural heritage and the authenticity and integrity of living cultures of Indigenous communities.
We have incorporated strategic climate change responses across all relevant levels of our planning and operations. We are working towards becoming carbon neutral.
With Advanced Ecotourism certification, we offer outstanding experiences which let you get back to nature, help conservation, and minimise environmental impact.
We are a credible, well trained, and professional business. We conduct business in compliance with Australian Consumer Law and in accordance with ATAS Charter and Code of Conduct.
The Council of Australian Tour Operators represents tour operators and wholesalers. As a full CATO member, we provide authentic and original holidays with sustainable travel.
We acknowledge the traditional owners of country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to them, their cultures, and to the elders both past and present.
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