Why You Should Visit Melbourne Cup Day
- Written by News Company
The Melbourne Cup happens to be one of the famous horse races in the world. Held on the first Tuesday of November each year in the Australian Capital Territory with the main racing event taking place in the Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, the famous event has been dubbed as the “race that stops a nation.”
The horse racing event is full of tradition and has a sweet history, considering it was first organized in the year 1861. The race has over the decades produced countless legends and interesting factors like gambling, heroic victories, conspiracy, fashion, rivalry, not to mention fatal accidents, have all made Melbourne Cup Day one of the most important and celebrated sports events in the country. Because it’s a public holiday, the event is celebrated all over Australia, with local horse races held throughout the country.
This year, the glorious event will be held on November 6th with the winner expected to take home a whopping $7.3 million, up from $6.25 in 2017. However, unlike the previous years, the winner will not only receive a slight pay bump, but the prize money will be awarded all the way down to the 12th competitor. This will be the biggest purse in history.
The Melbourne Cup 2017 was won by Rekindling, which interestingly was the youngest horse in the field. The horse was trained by Joseph O’Brien and ridden by Corey Brown. This year, Joseph O'Brien has entered three horses including Master of Reality, Latrobe, and Ming. It’s not yet certain whether the trainer will have one of his horses on the winning streak again!
Other trainers like Aidan O’Brien who trained Johannes Vermeer, Charlie Appleby, and Willie Mullins are also expected to join the race that stops a nation.
Notable winnings from the past years include Michelle Payne, the first woman jockey to win the Melbourne Cup. Prince of Penzance, the horse rode by Michelle, became the fourth horse to win at the odds of 100-1 in 2015. Another notable winning was scooped up by Makybe Diva, which became the only horse to win the Melbourne Cup three times. And sadly, we can’t forget to mention the tragic 2014 event that saw two horses die due to racing.
Reasons to Visit the Melbourne Cup Day in Australia
Other than the fun of watching the horse races and celebrating the winners, there are countless reasons to attend this famous event.
• Place a Bet: Melbourne Cup Day happens to be the country’s biggest betting event. In fact, it 2010, it was estimated that approximately $183 would be spent on betting by about 83,000 tourists. Betting on horse races is fun, and it’s not something you want to miss. Place your bet on the spot or online at Unibet and increase your chances of making a kill on your visit!
• Win Substantial Prizes for the Fashion on the Field best-dressed man or woman. All you have to do is “dress to kill” during the event. The Fashion Police will be on the lookout for the individuals who make the boldest fashion statement
• Have a drink or two at the event: The Melbourne Cup event is one big party. There are bars and pop-up drink stands all over the event!
• Have fun at The Park: The Park just adds merrier to the fun event. Here, you can enjoy carnival rides, take a wild spin at the vintage carousel, dance to the music, and when hunger sets in, you have a pop-up food truck right there
• Enjoy some of the most exquisite cuisines: Melbourne best restaurants show up in the event in pop up food trucks with all sorts of treats. So get your taste buds ready!
• Take Advantage of the Freebies: From food to makeup kits, the event is laden with all sorts of freebies to take home!
Wrapping It Up
Horse races are fun, but quite frankly, there is so much more than just watching the horses compete. The Melbourne Cup Day is one special event that will give you one incredible experience. So go ahead and have the time of your life, and don’t forget to get your bet on. You could return home a few dollars richer!