The race that stops the
nation, Australia’s most famous race, the Melbourne Cup is just around the
corner. You can almost smell the freshly cut grass of the track. You can almost
hear the fizz and effervesce of Champagne flowing into tall glasses. You can
almost feel the thunder of dozens of hooves on turf racing past. So get out
your fancy shoes, suit or frock, because the racing event of the year is nearly
here!
With so much of the great raced steeped in
history with legends such as Par Lap, and Black Caviar,
it is no surprise that the event receives so much attention. Of all the big events in Australia, racing
or not, the Melbourne Cup is by far one of the most prestigious to attend. Many of Australia’s biggest celebrities attend
religiously, as well as many big stars from overseas. This is definitely the event to be at.
For those unfamiliar with the specifics of
the big race, The Melbourne Cup is held every year at Flemington Racecourse
over a distance of 3200 meters. The grounds have a 100,000 strong capacity
which is almost always filled. The popular course is arguably the home of horse
racing in Australia due to its history. The track has been used since 1840 and
has hosted the Melbourne cup since 1861.
The original trophy has changed form a
number of times. The first year it was a gold watch, then became a silver bowl
& stand, and has changed shape a number of times since the 1867. The
current cup contains 1.65kg of 18-carat gold which has been hand beaten for
over 200 hours. The jockey also receives a miniature replica of the trophy
(miniature to match the jockey).
You can be sure that every man and his dog
will be out having a punt, and everyone has their hot betting tips. Since 2000,
around 80 per cent of the population have had a betting interest in the
Melbourne Cup in one form or another. But remember that of the 150 odd winners;
only 34 have been favourites, so choose wisely! The best advice that I can give
is that above all, remember to enjoy the entire carnival for everything that it
offers. If you are interested in having a bet I recommend TAB
Melbourne Cup. TABcorp own over 2,500 local outlets and are the biggest
sports betting agency in Australia so you know your money is safe with them.
TABCorp also own Luxbet who (at time of
writing) have a $250 bonus bet offer (see their melbourne cup
betting page here).
The excitement of the world’s richest
handicap race doesn’t stop with the horses though. There’s the fashion and
frocks to be considered! Some might say the girls are as competitive with their
frocks as the jockeys with their horses! With big fashion sponsors, many are
hoping to see an appearance from Australian super model Miranda Kerr who is
currently in Australia.
There is plenty of fun to be had with the
fashion on the field teams that roam the carnival in search of Melbourne’s best
dressed. This year’s Fashions on the Field Ambassador is Alison Saville, the
daughter of Black Caviar owner Pam Hawkes. Alison is a confident young lady who
shows fashion prowess both at and away from the race track.