| Most Australians know of the importance of the | | | | Melbournians in the process, giving them ample funds |
| Melbourne Cup in our culture but few know how it all | | | | to wager some of their money on a horse. |
| came about – how our nation has fallen in love with | | | | The rest as they say ‘is history.’ |
| the event that ’stops our nation’ in its tracks. | | | | Information on Melbourne Cup fashion and trends: |
| Our information on Melbourne Cup will shed some light | | | | With money came fashion and trends that have |
| on the Melbourne Cup history and how it all began. | | | | excited and amused track visitors for ages. Fashion |
| Melbourne Cup history: | | | | On The Field is one of the biggest attractions on Cup |
| The very first Melbourne Cup took place in 1861 was | | | | day in this day and age with substantial prizes |
| two miles long and the brainchild of Captain Frederick | | | | awarded for the best-dressed woman and man. |
| Standish. Standish, a one time VRC Chairman and | | | | One of the most obvious fashion attires are the hats |
| former a former Chief Commissioner of Victoria’s | | | | of all sizes and shapes. Elegant hats have become |
| Police force founded the race with the intention to add | | | | synonym with Melbourne Cup day and keep the local |
| a little prize-money to the mix to entice people to take | | | | milliners in business. |
| part. | | | | Flowers are also strongly associated with Melbourne |
| It was the Victoria Turf Cub’s quest to put on a | | | | Cup history and each race at Flemington has its own |
| “good handicap” to rival its ‘enemy,’ the | | | | flower: |
| Victoria Jockey Club.Today it is clear to all fans that | | | | * Victoria Derby Day has the Corn Flower, |
| those early visions have contributed to be one of the | | | | * Melbourne Cup Day has the Yellow Rose, |
| biggest events in the world on the yearly sporting | | | | * Oaks Day has the Pink Rose |
| calendar. | | | | * Stakes Day goes to the Red Rose |
| The race conditions for that very first race stated | | | | Money waged by keen betters: |
| “a sweepstakes of 20 sovereigns, 10 sovereigns | | | | It seems that the Cup has made us keen betters as |
| forfeit or 5 sovereigns if declared, with 200 sovereigns | | | | was unveiled in 2000 when an estimated 80 percent |
| added money.” Archer was the first horse ever to | | | | of our population waged a bet on the race. Most of us |
| have won the Melbourne Cup in front of an estimated | | | | think nothing of placing a bet on a horse or a sweep |
| 4,000 spectators. | | | | stake in order to win some money. |
| Flemington became ‘the place to be’ for society | | | | |
| conscious Australians: | | | | Why Thoroughbred horses are raced? |
| After the somewhat subdued start of the Melbourne | | | | Thoroughbreds are known thanks to horse racing |
| Cup due to coinciding with the death of Wills and | | | | around the world, not just in the Melbourne Cup. The |
| Burke the race considerable gained attention year | | | | word “thoroughbred” can be used to refer to a |
| after year and things really started to heat up thanks | | | | purebred horse, but technically speaking it refers to the |
| to the efforts of Robert Cooper Bagot, the first | | | | Thoroughbred breed only. This breed is considered to |
| Secretary of the VRC. | | | | be hot-blooded, full of spirit, speed and agility to boost. |
| By 1880, some 100,000 spectators made the journey | | | | Those attributes alone make a Thoroughbred the ideal |
| to Flemington. They came to witness Grand Flaneur | | | | horse for horse racing. These animals love to race |
| win Australia’s greatest race prize. Back then | | | | -it’s in their blood. You could see them as the |
| Melbourne had a population of only 290,000, therefore | | | | Lamborghini of horses, keen to put their power into |
| the attendance figures were huge. It was in the middle | | | | gear. |
| of the gold rush period that created many rich | | | | |