Guide to the Melbourne Cup 2009

The first Melbourne Cup Race Day was run in 1861,attracted a host of international trainers and jockeys
and since then it's usually held on the first Tuesday offrom Europe, American and Asia, and both the track
November each year. The premier race event of theand race distance provided a huge challenge to
meeting is the Emirates Melbourne Cup race, whichinternational racing! Marketed as the "Melbourne Cup
takes place at 3pm. It's hosted by the Victoria RacingCarnival" the event is now sponsored by Emirates
Club on the Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne.Airlines, a huge partner in the promotion of the event
The Flemington Racecourse encompasses an area ofand increasing its prestige even further!
1.27 square kilometres. Designed in a pear shapedAn extra motivation to the Melbourne Cup winner is
fashion it has a six furlong race track! The total racingthe $500,000 racing bonus that is on offer if the
distance is approximately 3.2km. The venue canwinning horse wins both the Melbourne Cup and the
accommodate up to 120,000 spectators, whichIrish St.Leger at the Curragh Racecourse in Ireland in
highlights the demand for such an exciting event as thethe same racing season. All in all, the race is now one
Melbourne Cup!of the major international sporting races.
The Racecourse has in total three impressiveThe race itself is promoted as being the "Race that
grandstands, one of which cost at total of $45 millionHalts the Nation" - highlighting its appeal to young and
to complete and was officially opened in 2000. Theold, who like a flutter at the races! It's quite possibly the
racecourse itself is one of the premier racing venues inrichest race in the world and the main point of the
the country, and is home to much of the most popularwhole Melbourne Cup Carnival festivities. There are
races in Australia, including the Victora Derby, theusually a total of ten races on the card for the
Australia Cup, the MacKinnon Stakes, NewmarketMelbourne Cup Day with the first race as early as
Handicap and of course, the Melbourne Cup!10.20am and races ran up to 5.15pm, with the
Flemington Racecourse has its own railway line, whichprestigious Emirates Cup race taking place at 3pm
brings punters to the Railway Station located directlyMelbourne time.
across from the racecourse. From Flinders Street youThe following are the ten races on the card that took
can hop on the train from platform 8 and 9. The venueplace this year for Melbourne Cup day:
is also serviced by shuttle buses from Epsom Road.Schiavello Stakes at 10.20am
One of the most striking, recognizable and iconicRitzenhoff Handicap at 11am
features of the Flemington Racecourse is the hugeThe Lavazza Long Black at 11.45
bronze statue of Australia's most famous racehorseThe Herald Sun Stakes at 12.30pm
Phar Lap, who won the Melbourne Cup in 1930. It'sThe Sweppes Tonic 1000 Race at 1.15pm
rumoured that he was tragically poisoned by rivalThe Lexus Stakes at 2pm
gangsters who made huge gambling losses due to hisThe Emirates Melbourne Cup Race at 3pm
unprecedented success.The Cup Day plate at 3.50pm
Race details are not available as of yet for the 2009The Blue Ribbon Foundation Race at 4.35pm
Melbourne Cup, but it will certainly be one to rememberThe Tab.Mobi Race at 5.15pm
if the 2008 events are anything to go by!You'll be astounded by the style and fashion stakes at
The Melbourne Cup Carnival's main race, the Emiratesthe Melbourne Cup. Since the late Princess Diana
Cup was contested on November 4th past, with theattended the race in 1985, there has been a "Fashion
winning horse "Viewed" who won by a hairs breath inof the Field" event, with many prizes being awarded to
an exciting finale with "Bauer". The Jockey was Blakethe best dressed male and female race attenders!
Shinn who won his first Melbourne Cup, and the horseElegant and beautiful hats, suits and dresses are the
was trained by Bart Cummings, the wily 61 year oldorder of the day.
trainer who is renowned as the "King of AustralianThe Australian media heavily cover the latest styles
Racing" - horses trained by Bart have won theworn by attendees, and the dress sense is becoming
Melbourne Cup a total of 12 times!almost as important as the race itself! It's a great day
The 2008 Melbourne Cup main event race saw a totalout to mingle with the excited crowds and see the
of 24 horses on the race card, although only 20latest fashions and you never know what celebrities
actually completed the race, and total prize moneyyou might bump into!
was $5.5 million Australian Dollars, with the winnerFlowers are an important symbol of the whole
receiving a cool $3.3 million dollars, plus the EmiratesMelbourne Cup Festival, and the Flemington
Gold Cup - a 9 carat antique gold trophy that hasRacecourse has many rose gardens within its
been presented to the winner since 1919, and which isspacious surroundings. The symbol of the Melbourne
worth over $120,000!Cup is the yellow rose, so be sure to buy one and
The winning trainer and jockey also receive miniaturewear it on your suit jacket lapels or your elegant dress!
replica trophies for winning the race. The prestige andSince as far back as 1877, the Melbourne urban area
thrill of the Melbourne Cup day, attracts jockeys andhas recognized the Melbourne Cup Race Cup Day as
trainers from all over the world. For example, in thea Public holiday, where the area comes to a standstill in
2008 race, Irish trainers Aidan O'Brien and Dermotits enjoyment of the race day. Television audiences
Weld trained horses to compete for the lucrativeare huge for the event, and there are many workplace
prizes on offer. In fact, the turning point in the history ofbetting sweeps and direct betting taking place. In fact it
the Melbourne Cup in its coming of age as anwas once estimated that almost 80% of Australian
international event, can be traced to 1993 when Weldadults have a flutter on the races the day of the
trained "Vintage Crop" to the title.Melbourne Cup!
No longer regarded as solely an Australian race, it