The annual fever of the Melbourne Cup is once again to bring Australia to a virtual standstill. Described as ‘more than just a horse race’ and a 145 year social and cultural tradition, the Melbourne Cup is run at 3pm local time on 7 November and will be watched by an estimated global television audience of 700 million people in 120 countries. The race is the highlight of the annual four-day Melbourne Cup Carnival at Flemington, which itself is a major part of Victoria’s Spring Racing Carnival.

In Melbourne the occasion is marked with public holiday status and most Australians will take at least a few minutes off work to watch or listen to the race. Remarkably perhaps, in a state where gambling is increasingly a topic for debate and concern over growing numbers of problem gamblers, schools in Victoria are encouraged to apply for a Melbourne Cup Tour organised by the Victoria Racing Club (VRC). In an online competition open to the public the VRC is offering free entry into a competition to win A$1 million. Entrants must name all runners in correct finishing order, a near impossible task.

Having just won the US$3 million Kentucky Breeders’ Cup, jockey Frankie Dettori will be trying his luck riding the French Geordieland in the Melbourne Cup. The 3200m race attracts owners and trainers from all over the world to compete for the A$5.1 million in prize money. The 24 runners this year come from Ireland (1), Japan (2), New Zealand (6), Great Britain (3), USA (1), France (1) plus 10 Australian horses. The following day is traditional Ladies’ Day, sponsored by Crown Casino, with the Grade 1 Crown Oaks run at 3pm over 2500m with a A$755,000 value. At the same time on Saturday the Emirates Stakes will be run over 1500m for an equivalent purse. (E-11.06.06)

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