by Chun-Lam Samuel Lo

Created on: March 26, 2010

The Melbourne Cup in Australia is a thoroughbred racing event that stops the nation. In 2010, Melbourne will hold the 150th Melbourne Cup. The Melbourne Cup is an event that is part of the Spring Racing Carnival which spans over a few weeks. It is held on the first Tuesday of November and horses from across the world race to become the winner.

The Melbourne Cup means a lot of different things to people. For some it means a public holiday and for some others it is a great day to place a bet and hope for the best. Why is it called the race that stops the nation? It is called that simply because it does just that. People around Australia are stopped in their tracks and staring at TV screens, listening to the radio or watching it live. More often than not these people have placed a bet and want to see if their bet has won. Millions of dollars are up on the line and the winner of the Melbourne Cup is anyone's guess.

It all started back in 1861. The first Melbourne Cup was won by a horse called Archer. Back then horses from across Australia to enter the event. These days the story is different. It is an international event and horses from across the world have taken part. Horses from Ireland and Japan have taken part in this amazing event and have in some cases won the Melbourne Cup.

It isn't always about the horses at the Melbourne Cup, some go to see the fashion and experience the atmosphere. The roar and cheer as the winner of the Melbourne Cup crosses the finishing line is just nerve shattering. There is nothing to describe the feeling as you see these horses go through their motions in the final straight of the race.

The race is over 3200m and it takes around a little over 3 minutes to complete. These three minutes of some people's lives can mean the difference between being a millionaire or winning nothing at all. It is the only sporting event in Melbourne where we get a day off work to do whatever we like. Most of the time it means placing a bet and watching the race. For some it is a day to go have a bbq and be with friends.

People that normally wouldn't gamble will sometimes place a small bet just to be in the action. If you are in Melbourne on the day of the race, you will feel the emotion and atmosphere or the nation as everyone unites watch such a spectacular event. Australia's Melbourne Cup is a race that truly stops a nation.

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