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Anyone who likes horses, excitement, and a chance to dress up with fancy outfits will love the Melbourne Cup. This annual horse race is so famous and beloved in Australia that most people take a day off to watch it. It is also one of the most popular sports in Australia, being in the same league as cricket, Australian football, rugby, and soccer.
What is the Melbourne Cup?
Melbourne Cup is the annual 3,200-meter horse race that involves thoroughbred horses, conducted on the Flemington Racecourse and run by the Victoria Racing Club In Australia, this annual racehorse is so important that every first Tuesday of November (its regular schedule) becomes a national holiday, earning the event the name “the race that stops the nation“.
The Melbourne Cup was initiated by Captain Frederick Charles Standish, a member of the Victorian Turf Club. The first race ever happened in 1861, involving seventeen horses. Despite the low turn-up expectation, this first race drew 4,000 people that came to watch.
The first Melbourne Cup was memorable because of many things. Aside from an early run by a bolting horse and three accidents that caused the deaths of two jockeys, the event produced an unexpected winner. Arthur, an “unfavorite” hand bay stallion with low favor in betting, ended up becoming the winner, beating a favorite champion horse called Mormon.
Why Is the Melbourne Cup Special?
What makes the Melbourne Cup so special that a national holiday was established for it?
For a start, this event offers generous prize money. Compared to the first race, which only offered 700 Pound (around 1,232 Australian Dollar with the current exchange), the current prize is 8 million Australian dollars. This does not include the trophy, which is made of gold and valued at 250,000 Australian dollars.
Melbourne Cup is also known for combining sport, fashion, and pomp into one big event. People who come to the match are expected to follow specific dress codes, which make them look elegant and posh. In 1962, Melbourne Cup even held a regular fashion event for the first time, calling it “Fashions on the Field”. In this event, there will be a best-dressed man and woman chosen.
Finally, Melbourne Cup is a big, international event that draws the attention of athletes from various countries. In Australia alone, over 1.4 million people have tuned in to their race through their televisions. Others gamble and bet over the race verdicts or custom-order fancy hats from local milliners in Melbourne.
Notable Winners (Horses and Jockeys)
The latest Melbourne Cup (2021) was won by a New Zealand-bred, six-year-old horse called Verry Elleegant, with New Zealander James McDonald as the jockey. However, some horses and jockeys have won this championship more than others.
Makybe Diva, a British bay mare, won the most cups with three consecutive wins in 2003, 2004, and 2005. She was also the only mare who got more than one win. She was followed by four horses which each won twice: Think Big, Rain Lover, Peter Pan, and the first ever horse to win at this event, Archer.
For the jockeys, there are two that held the most wins so far. Bobbie Lewis won in 1902, 1915, 1919, and 1927. In the more recent era, there is Harry White, who won in 1974, 1975, 1978, and 1979 and is now retired.
Related: Australia’s Greatest Athletes: Here’s What You Need to Know!
Ticket Prices for Watching Melbourne Cup
Melbourne Cup offers various types of tickets based on the seating positions. A general admission ticket costs 90.75 Australian dollars for one adult, but if you can get early bird pricing, you can get a ticket as cheap as 42 Australian dollars.
Prices for reserved seating vary, but they can range from 98 to 154 Australian dollars per person. You can find it on websites that sell event tickets.
Dress Code at Melbourne Cup
Melbourne Cup attendants are expected to wear proper, smart, classy outfits. There are outfits that are absolutely restricted, such as t-shirts, ripped denim, leggings, shorts, sleeveless or tank tops, miniskirts, sandals, flip-flops, and anything with bare midriffs.
Many women wear fantastic hats with fascinators when attending Melbourne Cup. Men are expected to wear suits, but instead of staying with neutral or dark colors, people can choose bolder and more colorful looks.
The Melbourne Cup is one of the most special events that the Australian public loves. Make sure to visit if you love horses and want to participate in locals’ favorite activities.