Melbourne Cup Day / myLot

Australia

November 3, 2015 12:56am CST

60 Every year, on the first Tuesday of November, Australia's biggest horse racing event is held in Melbourne. The day is a public holiday only in Victoria, the state where the event is taking place; but Melbourne Cup is very much observed throughout the nation. It has been known as the Race that Stops the Nation and the day when most are participating in bets. Nationwide streets are empty when the main race is going on with most people are congregating inside sport bars or race tracks where public can watch the live broadcast from large screens. As horse racing is quite popular, there are many similar events throughout Australia. But Melbourne Cup Day is still the most popular social and horse racing event in the country. It has been observed since the first race was held in 1861.

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10 responses

veganbliss

@veganbliss (3895)

• Adelaide, Australia

26 Nov 15

You're right about it being the Race That Stops a Nation... just try calling any small business anywhere from about lunchtime until hometime & you never get any sense at all out of them! It mucks up the economy alright. I don't bet, nor drink for that matter. We like Adelaide Cup Day much better down here

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veganbliss

@veganbliss (3895)

• Adelaide, Australia

26 Nov 15

@sishy7 Isn't it only the Melbourne Metro Area that had the holiday, like it used to be?

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sishy7

@sishy7 (27166)

• Australia

26 Nov 15

We're probably the minority for sure for not betting and drinking especially on that day...

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sishy7

@sishy7 (27166)

• Australia

26 Nov 15

@veganbliss I don't know, maybe the entire state, but I'm not sure...

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (382693)

• Rockingham, Australia

4 Nov 15

And wasn't it great that a woman jockey won? I love it when the battlers come good and beat all the rich toffs. Nothing against 'rich toffs' really but good that the Cup didn't go overseas.

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sishy7

@sishy7 (27166)

• Australia

4 Nov 15

Exactly! What was it - Prince of Penzance was something like a 100-1 long shot, wasn't it?

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sishy7

@sishy7 (27166)

• Australia

4 Nov 15

@JudyEv It will too... already we've been reading or hearing interesting stories how Ms Payne "beat the world".

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (382693)

• Rockingham, Australia

4 Nov 15

@sishy7 Yes, 100-1 or thereabouts. And wouldn't his strapper have been over the moon? It will make a great film one day.

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sofs

@sofssu (23660)

•

4 Nov 15

I have never been interested in horse racing. My friend in Sydney keeps talking about it.

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sishy7

@sishy7 (27166)

• Australia

4 Nov 15

Ha ha... your friend couldn't contain the excitement and there you are, like, still not interested okay...

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Cahaya

@cahaya1983 (11116)

• Malaysia

4 Nov 15

My sister stayed in Melbourne for almost 4 years, but I can't remember her telling about this day. Sounds like a very important event for the country.

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sishy7

@sishy7 (27166)

• Australia

4 Nov 15

Maybe she's like me - don't really participate much on the event even though it's observed nationwide.

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Jekca

@Jessicalynnt (50523)

• Centralia, Missouri

3 Nov 15

We were going to place a small bet last year on the American Triple crown winner, but found out you cant bet online in Texas, a bit sad, but not that big of a deal. we only wanted to, so we could have the memories of having won on a rare thing.

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sishy7

@sishy7 (27166)

• Australia

3 Nov 15

Even people who don't usually gamble tend to place a bet today...

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Jekca

@Jessicalynnt (50523)

• Centralia, Missouri

3 Nov 15

@sishy7 Now and then I will, I have to have money I am willing to lose though