Melbourne Cup

Every year, Australians come together to celebrate the most popular horse race on the calendar, Melbourne Cup Day.

Also known as the Lexus Melbourne Cup, the Melbourne Cup is the premier event of the Spring Racing Carnival and is held on the first Tuesday in November each year, which will be on the 7th of November in 2023.

Melbourne Cup Day 2023 Date, Tickets, Dress Code & Race Start Time

The Melbourne Cup was started in 1861 and became so revered that it is declared a public holiday in Victoria. Many legendary events have occurred at this racecourse. People still remember the performance by Phar Lap in 1930 or the trifecta wins by Makybe Diva in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

At 3pm on that famous first Tuesday in November, the Lexus Melbourne Cup takes its rightful place as the centrepiece for the entire Melbourne Cup Carnival.

Over 3,200 metres, the Melbourne Cup offers the richest prize in Australian sport and a 18ct solid gold Hardy Brothers trophy valued at $175,000+ and a stake of the $8 million prize money and to cement their names in history.

No other event comes close to the boundless energy you can only experience in person on Cup Day, the famous race day that will once again define the Australian entertainment, fashion and sporting landscape.

Take your place trackside for one of the world’s most renowned tests of thoroughbred greatness.  Held over 3200m, ‘the race that stops a nation’ heralds an honour roll of local, national and international equine superstars.

Offering something for every kind of racegoer – fashionistas, foodies, die-hard punters and everyone in between – this is the one everyone has been waiting for.

Having a bet is very popular on Melbourne Cup Day, with hundreds of millions of dollars spent on one race. Most people place bets through the official TAB or a bookmaker in person, but it’s commonplace that sweepstakes are held at companies around the country.

The Melbourne Cup Day race is a day full of fun and frivolities. Dress up in your Spring finest, and bring a group of friends (and maybe even a picnic) to the most famous day on Australia’s sporting calendar. Food and drinks can be purchased at the racetrack, and ATMs are available inside the racecourse; however, due to the large crowds, lines are often long. Betting is a popular pastime, so bring some extra cash to place a bet on Australia’s biggest races.

Public transport to the event is plentiful, with trains that run direct and trams stopping only a short walk away. Special trains run directly to Flemington Racecourse on race days. Trains to Flemington Racecourse depart at Flinders Street Station, Southern Cross Station and North Melbourne Station. You can also catch the #57 Maribyrnong tram from the Elizabeth Street/Flinders Street intersection and alight at Flemington Drive.

The official flower for Melbourne Cup Day is the yellow rose, which can be purchased from flower sellers near the entrances upon arrival to Flemington.

There are no dress regulations for general admission ticket holders. However, wear your favourite casual or race-day attire for a fun day at the races.