Every Australian has heard of the Melbourne Cup, the horse race that is held on the first Tuesday in November, and is fondly referred to as “the race that stops a nation”. However, unless you are a member of the racing fraternity you may not know that Victoria's Spring Racing Carnival showcases 50 days of world-class thoroughbred racing in a party atmosphere unmatched by any other Australian sporting event.
The 2008 Spring Carnival runs from Wednesday 1 October to Wednesday 19 November, and it incorporates 85 race meetings made up of meetings held by the metropolitan clubs, where the big prizemoney group one races take place, and also the country clubs, which hold their own Cup meetings. In addition to the horse racing, the Spring Carnival encompasses a range of fabulous fashion and supporting social events.
There are over 60 country race meetings throughout Victoria including over 20 country cups meetings at towns such as Ararat, Avoca, Ballarat, Benalla, Bendigo, Cranbourne, Donald, Dunkeld, Geelong, Kyneton, Mansfield, Manangatang, Moe, Murtoa, Sale, Seymour and Mt. Whycheproof. The winner of the Melbourne Cup could come from one of these Country Cups and they all offer a unique raceday experience with great support from the local communities.
In Melbourne there are carnivals at each of the big racecourses of Caulfield, Moonee Valley and Flemington. Why not take a break and spend a few days immersing yourself in the Sport of Kings? A Melbourne self-drive holiday would allow you to visit a combination of city and country races, or you could decide to simply stay in Melbourne where there are many attractions to keep you entertained away from the racetrack.
Race days can be a great opportunity to dress in your most fashionable, and sometimes even your most outrageous attire, and for those who take their fashion seriously there are some fantastic prizes to be won on course. Ladies don’t forget to wear a hat or a fascinator! If you enjoy betting there will be plenty of opportunities with the TAB and bookmakers galore, but many people enjoy the atmosphere of a big race day without ever going near the betting ring.
If you want to attend the Melbourne Cup itself, you had better start booking your short break in Melbourne now, as accommodation can be hard to find as that first Tuesday in November draws closer.