What is the significance of Melbourne cup?

Answer 1

It's called the "Race that stops a nation", it draws a on course attendance of 100,000 + each year. It's a public holiday in it's native Victoria, with all other states having major race events to support it.

The prize pool for the race last year was over $6 million dollars AUS, the money taken on the day by the betting agency TAB is phenomenal all over Australia.

In 2010 TAB took $107.5 Million on the race in bets.

It attracts an international field vying for the prize.

For most people in Australia it's a day off work, in my native Western Australia due to the time zone differences of 3 hours, the first race starts around 07:30 am Western time and our last race (trots or dogs) in Western Australia finishes around 11 pm. So it's a long day!

Answer 2

It is the biggest horse race in Australia, and attracts a lot of attention from around the world. Horses from other countries have even gone to enter it. The Melbourne Cup is referred t 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. It is held on the first Tuesday of November. It is a holiday in the Melbourne area.