Melbourne Cup Day is one of Australia's most celebrated sporting events, held at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Victoria. It is a 3200-meter (2-mile) race for thoroughbred horses aged three years and older, with a prize pool exceeding $8 million AUD.

Table of Contents

1. When is Melbourne Cup Day?
2. The History of Melbourne Cup Day?
3. What Do People Do on This Day?
4. More about Victoria, Australia?

When is Melbourne Cup Day?

The Melbourne Cup Day is observed annually on the first Tuesday of November in Victoria.

The following is the list of Melbourne Cup Day from 2020 to 2049.

The History of Melbourne Cup Day? 

The Melbourne Cup is Australia's most famous horse race, first run in 1861. It has since grown into one of the world's richest and most prestigious horse races, earning its title as "The Race That Stops a Nation".

The Victoria Turf Club (now the Victoria Racing Club, VRC) introduced the Melbourne Cup in 1861 as a handicap race for top-class racehorses.

The first Cup was won by Archer, who walked over 800 km from Sydney to Melbourne to compete! The prize in 1861 was 710 gold sovereigns and a gold watch.

In 1875, the Melbourne Cup was run on the first Tuesday of November for the first time, a tradition that continues today.

The Cup becomes Australia's biggest horse racing event in 1880s, drawing 100,000 plus spectators at Flemington.

The event grew in stature, attracting horses from across Australia and later from international stables. The Cup is now part of the Spring Racing Carnival, attracting over 90,000 racegoers at Flemington and millions watching on TV.

Melbourne Day remains one of the richest horse races in the world. International horses from Japan, Ireland, the UK, and the US now regularly compete.

In 1877, Melbourne Cup Day was declared a public holiday in Victoria, recognizing its immense popularity.

By the early 20th century, radio broadcasts of the race allowed people across Australia to follow the event. The 1950 Melbourne Cup was the first to be televised in Australia, further increasing national interest.

What Do People Do on This Day?

Melbourne Cup Day is a major social and sporting event in Australia, with celebrations extending beyond the race itself. The Melbourne Cup is not just a horse race, it's a national celebration! Over 90,000 people attend Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne.

Fans dress in high fashion, with men in suits and women wearing fascinators & designer outfits.

The Melbourne Cup is broadcast live on TV and radio, with many Australians stopping work at 3:00 PM (AEST) to watch. Pubs and restaurants host Melbourne Cup luncheons with race screenings, food, and drinks.

Offices and workplaces often hold Cup Day parties, where employees take a break to watch the race.

Millions of dollars are bet on the race, with major betting agencies offering odds on horses.

Fashions on the Field is a prestigious fashion competition, awarding prizes for best-dressed men and women.

Many Australians take the afternoon off for lunches with friends and family at restaurants and bars hosting Melbourne Cup events, or at-home celebrations with food and drinks.

More about Victoria, Australia?

Victoria is the second-smallest state in Australia by land size but is one of the most populous and vibrant regions. Melbourne is the state capital, also Australia's second-largest city with approximately 5.2 million people.

Melbourne hosts several major sports like Australian Open for Tennis, Melbourne Cup for Horse Racing, Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, AFL Grand Final for Football and others.

Victoria is bordered by New South Wales to the north, South Australia to the west, and the Bass Strait to the south. It features a varied landscape, from coastal beaches and rainforests to mountain ranges and arid plains.

The Great Ocean Road offers some of the world's most spectacular coastal scenery, including the famous Twelve Apostles rock formations.