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| How the Melbourne Cup became Australia's prestigious race | How the Melbourne Cup became Australia's prestigious race |
| (1 day later) | |
| From high-rise offices to dusty Outback mines, Australia grinds to a halt every year on the first Tuesday of November. | From high-rise offices to dusty Outback mines, Australia grinds to a halt every year on the first Tuesday of November. |
| Melbourne Cup day is a designated public holiday in Victoria, but even elsewhere in the nation, workers will down tools come race time at 3pm. | Melbourne Cup day is a designated public holiday in Victoria, but even elsewhere in the nation, workers will down tools come race time at 3pm. |
| The two-mile thoroughbred race is Australia's equivalent of Britain's Grand National or America's Kentucky Derby, capturing the world's attention for the three-and-a-half minute spectacle. | The two-mile thoroughbred race is Australia's equivalent of Britain's Grand National or America's Kentucky Derby, capturing the world's attention for the three-and-a-half minute spectacle. |
| Known as "the race that stops the nation", the Melbourne Cup began more than 150 years ago amid gold rush-era Australia. | Known as "the race that stops the nation", the Melbourne Cup began more than 150 years ago amid gold rush-era Australia. |
| The Cup's social early days | The Cup's social early days |
| Just 4,000 people packed Flemington Racecourse for the first race in 1861, with inaugural winner Archer rumoured to have claimed a gold watch rather than the iconic Cup of today. | Just 4,000 people packed Flemington Racecourse for the first race in 1861, with inaugural winner Archer rumoured to have claimed a gold watch rather than the iconic Cup of today. |
| The event grew quickly, however, taking on a carnival-like atmosphere as it attracted the rich and famous - not to mention the latest trends in fashion. | The event grew quickly, however, taking on a carnival-like atmosphere as it attracted the rich and famous - not to mention the latest trends in fashion. |
| By 1880, when Melbourne had a population of just 290,000 people, the Cup itself drew 100,000 people from around Australia, according to the Victoria Racing Club. | By 1880, when Melbourne had a population of just 290,000 people, the Cup itself drew 100,000 people from around Australia, according to the Victoria Racing Club. |
| "The champagne flows, everybody is vivacious, excited, happy," Mark Twain wrote in 1895. | "The champagne flows, everybody is vivacious, excited, happy," Mark Twain wrote in 1895. |
| "Nowhere in the world have I encountered a festival of people that has such a magnificent appeal to the whole nation. The Cup astonishes me." | "Nowhere in the world have I encountered a festival of people that has such a magnificent appeal to the whole nation. The Cup astonishes me." |
| The famous gold Cup presented today first appeared for the 1919 race and is now estimated to be worth US$95,000 (£78,310). | The famous gold Cup presented today first appeared for the 1919 race and is now estimated to be worth US$95,000 (£78,310). |
| 'Schools stop, parliament stops' | 'Schools stop, parliament stops' |
| Some 100,000 spectators are expected to line the Flemington track on Tuesday, clutching cold drinks in one hand and perhaps a betting slip in the other. | Some 100,000 spectators are expected to line the Flemington track on Tuesday, clutching cold drinks in one hand and perhaps a betting slip in the other. |
| Elaborate headwear and frocks are the traditional attire for women; suits, colourful ties and pocket handkerchiefs for men. | Elaborate headwear and frocks are the traditional attire for women; suits, colourful ties and pocket handkerchiefs for men. |
| Race organisers claim this year's event will be watched by up to 700 million people in more than 120 countries. | Race organisers claim this year's event will be watched by up to 700 million people in more than 120 countries. |
| "It's not a cliché to say that the nation stops for the Melbourne Cup. It literally does. Schools stop, parliament stops and everything in between," says sports broadcaster Gerard Whateley. | "It's not a cliché to say that the nation stops for the Melbourne Cup. It literally does. Schools stop, parliament stops and everything in between," says sports broadcaster Gerard Whateley. |
| "The fact that it was conceived as a handicap race rather than elite quality race speaks about the way Australia grew up essentially. It was a race to be won by any horse or any person in the colony as opposed to creating a hierarchy of the greatest." | "The fact that it was conceived as a handicap race rather than elite quality race speaks about the way Australia grew up essentially. It was a race to be won by any horse or any person in the colony as opposed to creating a hierarchy of the greatest." |
| It is a celebration that is inextricably linked with alcohol and gambling. | It is a celebration that is inextricably linked with alcohol and gambling. |
| Australia has the world's highest gambling loss per head, according to UK consultancy H2 Gambling Capital, with Australians losing an average of US$1,130 a year. | Australia has the world's highest gambling loss per head, according to UK consultancy H2 Gambling Capital, with Australians losing an average of US$1,130 a year. |
| And it is said that if all the bottles of champagne dunk during the carnival were placed end-to-end, they would easily line the track. | And it is said that if all the bottles of champagne dunk during the carnival were placed end-to-end, they would easily line the track. |
| "The whole thing has turned into a thing where people are going to quite a few days without seeing a race let alone a horse," says HG Nelson, the Australian comedian and sports personality. | "The whole thing has turned into a thing where people are going to quite a few days without seeing a race let alone a horse," says HG Nelson, the Australian comedian and sports personality. |
| "It's probably got a lot to do with people saying 'this is Australia's day, and we're going to celebrate it like Australians', which is largely eating and drinking," he says. | "It's probably got a lot to do with people saying 'this is Australia's day, and we're going to celebrate it like Australians', which is largely eating and drinking," he says. |
| Patrick Bartley, racing editor for The Age newspaper, said the appeal of the event is its camaraderie and uniquely level playing field. | |
| "It is said that the CEO of the company stands next to the boy in the mailroom for a sweep," he said. | "It is said that the CEO of the company stands next to the boy in the mailroom for a sweep," he said. |
| He argues that despite concerns that the charm of the race could disappear with the rise of international runners, the event has not lost its momentum. | He argues that despite concerns that the charm of the race could disappear with the rise of international runners, the event has not lost its momentum. |
| "We're actually quite quizzical about where these horses come from whether it's Germany, Ireland, France, England, Hong Kong or France - it's become an international event," he says. | "We're actually quite quizzical about where these horses come from whether it's Germany, Ireland, France, England, Hong Kong or France - it's become an international event," he says. |
| The barbecues, the office sweeps and the bets have continued year after year. | The barbecues, the office sweeps and the bets have continued year after year. |
| "For most, it's a glass of champagne, it's a ticket," Barley says. "No one can stage a race like this." | "For most, it's a glass of champagne, it's a ticket," Barley says. "No one can stage a race like this." |
| Melbourne Cup in numbers | Melbourne Cup in numbers |
| First run: 1861 | First run: 1861 |
| Attendance record: 122,736 (2003) | Attendance record: 122,736 (2003) |
| Most wins as trainer: 12 - Bart Cummings (1965, 1966, 1967, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1990, 1991, 1996, 1999, 2008) | Most wins as trainer: 12 - Bart Cummings (1965, 1966, 1967, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1990, 1991, 1996, 1999, 2008) |
| Race record: Kingston Rule (3:16.30) in 1990 | Race record: Kingston Rule (3:16.30) in 1990 |
| First female jockey to win: Michelle Payne - Prince of Penzance (2015) | First female jockey to win: Michelle Payne - Prince of Penzance (2015) |
| Source: Victoria Race Club | Source: Victoria Race Club |