"The Race That Stops a Nation" - Melbourne Cup...

Living here for a few years I notice one thing about the end of October, not too many pumpkins or fall foliage, it is spring after all, but rather the stores are full of many different dresses, some of them outrageous, and hats and fascinators, the reason behind all this fashion is the Spring Races, there are 4 races, Victoria Derby Day,  The Melbourne Cup is also known as the race that stops a nation, Crown Oaks Day and Emirates Stakes Day. So many people don't go to work, they go to the local horse track if available or to restaurants or any establishment that shows the races and has betting facilities.  The Melbourne Cup is Australia's major thoroughbred horse race. Marketed as "the race that stops a nation", it is a 3,200 metre race for three-year-olds and over. It is the richest "two-mile" handicap in the world, and one of the richest turf races. Conducted annually by the Victoria Racing Club on the Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Victoria, the event starts at 3pm (daylight saving time) on the first Tuesday in November. The first race was held in 1861 over two miles (about 3,218 metres), but was shortened to 3,200 metres (2.0 mi) in 1972 when Australia adopted the metric system. This reduced the distance by 18.688 metres (61.31 ft), and Rain Lover's 1968 race record of 3min.19.1sec was accordingly adjusted to 3min.17.9sec. The present record holder is the 1990 winner Kingston Rule with a time of 3min 16.3sec.

Melbourne Cup day is a public holiday for all working within metropolitan Melbourne and some parts of regional Victoria, but not for some country Victorian cities and towns which hold their own spring carnivals. For Federal Public Servants it is also observed as a holiday in the entire state of Victoria, and from 2007 to 2009 also in the Australian Capital Territory known as Family and Community Day replacing Picnic Day.

As early as 1865, Cup day was a half-holiday in Melbourne for public servants and bank officials. Various businesses also closed at lunchtime.It took some years before the purpose of the declared holiday was acknowledged in the Victoria Government Gazette. The Gazette of 31 October 1873 announced that the following Thursday (Cup Day) be observed as a bank and civil (public) service holiday.

During the Spring Races there is a specific way of dressing. AAMI Victoria Derby Day - The week starts with the traditional black and white on Derby Day, which is where we will see the new season’s geometric shapes and stripes, along with the classic stripe and polka dot prints.  Emirates Melbourne Cup - On Emirates Melbourne Cup Day, fashion is fun and race-goers often exercise their creativity through embracing bold colours and strong prints. We will see some great graphic prints and fun headwear, in bold reds, orange, fuchsia and cobalt blue. Crown Oaks Day - Oaks Day features the final of the Myer Fashions on the Field Women’s Racewear and is all about dressing to impress. This is the day ladies traditionally wear their most feminine and floaty outfits. Emirates Stakes Day - Emirates Stakes Day is family day, which takes the dress etiquette to a more relaxed level. You will often see ladies wearing bright floaty fabrications and large brimmed hats embracing the racewear looks trackside. Unfortunately the most gorgeous heels are usually uncomfortable so party feet are the way to go. A chunkier heel will stop you from sinking into the grass - taking off the heels and walking barefoot is a big no-no so ballet flats can be a saviour at the end of the day.
Clutches with an optional strap are perfect to keep your hands free for champagne, canapés and the form guide, and spring racing headpieces should be straw - felt is more appropriate in Autumn.

Sadly this year there were tragedies at the track as one of the horses had a heart attack and died, and another one got spooked by a person waving a flag in front of it and the poor horse hit a stake and had to be put down. Because of this, no flags of any sort will be allowed near where the horses come down after the race.