What is the most famous horse race in Australia?

Popularly known as “race that stops the nation”, the Melbourne Cup is one of the biggest, most famous and popular races of Australia. Aussies love horse racing and most main cities quickly fill up around race days, there’s a buzz in the streets whilst everyone studies and discusses their bets with their friends in the hope of winning big. Add to the equation that the race is on a holiday, and you can imagine the amount of partying in the city. During the pandemic, crowds were of course limited but now since restrictions have been lifted, the races are eagerly awaited. So, let’s see what makes the Melbourne Cup so famous!

This race is one of the oldest in the whole of the country and started in 1861. It’s steeped in history and has created innumerable memories for Melburnians over the years, it’s cherished by the community and the locals. A 3200-meter race for three years and older, starting at the beginning of November, it did however get off to a rocky start at its beginning. Despite the hippodrome welcoming a record number of visitors during it’s opening; three of the seventeen starters fell during the race, even so it was the start of a long history for this institution. Every year, the race kept growing, in 1985 for example, the horse “What a Nuisance” was the first ever winner in the country to win $1 million prize money. Since then, the venue has been modernized, refurbished, and now makes a great place for a day out with the whole family. It’s considered by many one of the most important sporting events out there. Aussies wait the whole year for the day to come, a bit like Christmas Day. This undoubtedly makes it extra special.

The race is held every year, at the beginning of November (the first Tuesday of the month) at the Flemington Racecourse. The whole of Melbourne comes alive, not only at the venue but in the whole city, all bars will be showing the race, almost everybody will be talking about it, and everyone will have at least one bet placed! Regardless of if you’re going to see races in Melbourne, Sydney, or Brisbane, it’s always a good idea to start looking for your accommodation well in advance. Make sure you use some useful tools to search for the rentals, to get the perfect place! This will save you time, and make sure you’re in the middle of the action during race season. Accommodation usually books up with almost a year’s advance so keep an eye on deals and what’s on offer to avoid disappointment, or worse yet, getting stuck in a horrible apartment during your time in the city.

For the few who aren’t so into the races, the day is a great opportunity to get dressed up and go out with friends for a few cocktails. Fashion is an important part of the event, with many people spending a small fortune on the day. Be it with a group of friends, a hen-do or family fun, there’s something for everyone. You can even go VIP spotting, with many famous celebrities joining in on the fun. 

Whether you’re into betting or a beginner, you can find the perfect fit at the cup. For beginners, there are two tried and tested methods that will improve your betting luck: The first is to pick your lucky number and stick to it, the horse with that number surely will have to win…right? The second, is to find a friend who is really into horse racing and do exactly what he or she does! This method is foolproof, all you have to do is kick back, relax, and watch the winnings roll in. If that doesn’t convince you, you can always read up on news and prognostics before your visit, to be a bit more in-the-know. If you’re not lucky on the day, don’t worry, just make sure you don’t get too carried away.

Tickets sell out fast, and we mean fast. Make sure you know the release dates and jump on them as soon as they become available. The venue offers corporate packages too which obviously need to be booked and organized beforehand. If you’re lucky to get your hands on a VIP pass or a private booth, congratulations!

So there it is, our favorite race is by far the Melbourne Cup, both for the incredible vibes in the city, the city itself, the fashion, the VIPs and the quality of the jockeys and horses. Get your flights booked, get your accommodation sorted, find a big group of mates to go with, read up your betting inside info, and come and experience it for yourself. You’re guaranteed to have the best time. 

Category: Racing