Flamington Racecourse from Footscray

Flemington Racecourse from Footscray Park.

Last year when I was first came to Melbourne, I am not really sure what is Melbourne Cup all about. Then I realise on the day itself. It is one of the biggest Horse Race in the World. It is a big event in Melbounre and had been established as a public holiday. The carnival already started since last Saturday. Today is the biggest party/event/race of them all.

So coincidence, the Flamington Racecourse is just near by my house. You can see it from the Footscray Park clearly. I went for cycling early this morning and saw many people started built their tent, having barbecue and picnic near the river in front of the Flamington Racecourse. How exciting. You can't blame them it is a holiday, and so fortunate today's weather is really great, warm and shiny day. Maximum temperature will be 21C.

Well here is a little bit of Melbourne Cup History.

Melbourne Cup Day is Australia's most famous Tuesday. The first Tuesday in November, Australians everywhere stop for one of the world's most famous horse races.

The Melbourne Cup has long been known as an urban fashion parade. The race track was one of the few places in colonial Australia where high society and the lower classes came together socially. The first Australian race meet, held in 1810, established the culture of the Melbourne Cup and was organised in Sydney by Governor Macquarie as part of a plan to improve the cultural life of Sydney.
The racecourse was designed as a neutral meeting place for colonists of all classes - military officers, convicts and free settlers. The Subscriber's Ball, organised with the 1810 race meeting, was attended by 'all the Beauty & Fashion of the Colony' (Sydney Gazette, October 1810).at Flemington, from the 1880s onwards, the crowds transformed the race meetings into a fashion spectacular.

The rest of the information you can get it through the Internet.