A little bit of infomation on the history of "The Cup".
MELBOURNE CUP DAY
One race every year stops the entire nation. Even if it is only for the duration of the race.
If they are not actually present - instead glued to their television sceens or their radios - Australians all over the country, of every age and from every walk of life, follow the horses running in Melbourne Cup.
Melbourne Cup Day is fixed for the first Tuesday in November.
The race is recognized as one of the World's greatest handicap races.
It is held at Flemington Race Course, in a Melbourne suburb which is called after a butcher who once lived there.
The first Cup was run in 1861 . There were 17 starters and, paradoxically, the prize - apart from the money (170 pounds) - was not a cup at all , but a hand-beaten gold watch .
Archer, the Winning horse , had walked to Melbourne from his stable in Nowra, New South Wales, a distance of 500 miles (800km)
Australian public holidays include Australia Day, January 26; ANZAC Day, April 25; Queens Birthday in early June except in WA where it's in October; Labour Day, usually early October; Good Friday, Easter Monday, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Years Day. There are a few extra local holidays like Melbourne Cup Day in Melbourne.
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Verified answer
Melbourne Cup Day, but it's not a public holiday all over Australia.
This year it was yesterday Tuesday 6th November, 2007.
For information about the Melbourne Cup Carnival see:
http://www.vrc.net.au/melbourne-cup-carnival/
A little bit of infomation on the history of "The Cup".
MELBOURNE CUP DAY
One race every year stops the entire nation. Even if it is only for the duration of the race.
If they are not actually present - instead glued to their television sceens or their radios - Australians all over the country, of every age and from every walk of life, follow the horses running in Melbourne Cup.
Melbourne Cup Day is fixed for the first Tuesday in November.
The race is recognized as one of the World's greatest handicap races.
It is held at Flemington Race Course, in a Melbourne suburb which is called after a butcher who once lived there.
The first Cup was run in 1861 . There were 17 starters and, paradoxically, the prize - apart from the money (170 pounds) - was not a cup at all , but a hand-beaten gold watch .
Archer, the Winning horse , had walked to Melbourne from his stable in Nowra, New South Wales, a distance of 500 miles (800km)
Australian public holidays include Australia Day, January 26; ANZAC Day, April 25; Queens Birthday in early June except in WA where it's in October; Labour Day, usually early October; Good Friday, Easter Monday, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Years Day. There are a few extra local holidays like Melbourne Cup Day in Melbourne.
its a holiday here everyday mate.....