Read why The Melbourne Cup is a race that stops a nation.

Horse racing is a big pastime in Australia, and perhaps the most famous of all races is the Melbourne Cup. It literally is the race that stops a nation, because everyone stops what they’re doing to watch the race, and of course they also hope they may win a few dollars by betting on the winner.

All across the country, not just in Melbourne, everyone will switch on their TVs whether they are die-hard racing fans or not. It’s like a tradition in Australia, just as it is in England with the Grand National.

Melbourne Cup betting is also extremely popular, with many national newspapers giving away Melbourne Cup tips and offering sweepstake kits for people to use in offices and workplaces. If you don’t know anything about horses, it’s not a problem at all. Just choose a horse at random, as there are many horses that start the Melbourne Cup who have a chance of winning. Most people will pick a horse at random simply because they like the name, or because it has some special meaning for them.

Many websites that offer Melbourne Cup betting will also have a section for Melbourne Cup tips, and form guides for the professionals to use to try and determine the winner. So you could try to be scientific about it, or choose a horse that has won a number of similar races, or just go with the flow and pick a random horse. Who knows, you might just bag a winner at 100/1!

Some of these things are why you’ll find that the Melbourne Cup is a national event that everyone is interested in. Many use it as a social event, to get together with friends and watch the race and build-up. Many use it as a business event, in order to network with clients. Most will see it as a bit of fun that comes around each year that offers a bit of sport and excitement.