What is the Melbourne Cup?
The Melbourne Cup is Australia's most famous horse race, run on the first Tuesday of November at Flemington Racecourse. Known as the race that stops a nation, it has been held since 1861.
The race is a handicap contest over 3,200 metres for horses aged three and older. Handicaps mean better horses carry more weight, making the race more open and unpredictable.
The first Melbourne Cup in 1861 was won by a horse named Archer. Phar Lap, one of Australia's greatest racehorses, won the Cup in 1930 and is still celebrated today.
The race that stops a nation
Melbourne Cup Day is a public holiday in metropolitan Melbourne. Across the country, workplaces hold sweepstakes and lunches, and people stop to watch or listen to the race, which lasts just over three minutes.
The Cup is part of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival, which also includes the Victoria Derby, the Oaks and Stakes Day. Fashions on the Field, a fashion competition, is a popular part of the day.
Makybe Diva is the only horse to win the Melbourne Cup three times, in 2003, 2004 and 2005. International horses, especially from Ireland, Britain and Japan, have won the race in recent decades. The race has also faced protests over animal welfare.
Did You Know?
The trophy for the Melbourne Cup is a three-handled gold loving cup.