Melbourne Cup is Australia’s largest and most popular annual horse racing event. Held on the 3rd of the beginning of November every year at 3pm. This is a 3200m long race for horses 3 years of age and older organized by the Horse Racing Club – Victoria at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne.
This is a handicap competition (for all sides to weigh). The horses will be given additional weight on their backs to ensure that all competitors have the same chance of winning.
Melbourne Cup Day has been considered a public holiday in Victoria since 1873. In the past, the event has officially been an annual public holiday since 1993 and is regulated in Australia’s Official Holiday Law. However, if not in Melbourne or Victoria, there are also a lot of people watching via TV.
Currently, an estimated 700 million people follow this event in 120 countries around the world. On Tuesday of this November, you can watch the Melbourne Cup live via Australia Plus Television’s international television channel or listen to Radio Australia radio.
The Melbourne Cup 2019 Horse Racing is worth up to A $ 7 million. There will be about 24 horses participating in the cup competition. The trophy for the winning horse is not cheap at all. Especially, this trophy is worth up to $ 175,000, made from 18 carats of gold.
The sole is made from Australian mimosa wood. Each year, the trophy will be renewed to give the owner of the winning horse. In this tournament, there are also 2 other trophies worth about $ 10,000 for trainers and riders. The Archer horse won the first Melbourne Cup and its owner was given a gold watch.
Cup Day is part of the equestrian festival which includes many other events. For example, The Derby which took place the previous Saturday, Oaks Day on the Thursday after Cup Day and Stakes Day as the end of the festive season. Saturday after the Cup Day.