The Melbourne Cup is an annual Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race held in Melbourne, Australia at the Flemington Racecourse. It is a 3200-metre race for three-year-olds and older, conducted by the Victoria Racing Club which forms part of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival. It is the richest "two-mile" handicap in the world and one of the richest turf races. The event starts at 3:00 pm on the first Tuesday of November and is known locally as "the race that stops the nation".

**History**

The Melbourne Cup was first run in 1861 and has been held annually ever since, except for during World War I and World War II. The race is named after the city of Melbourne, where it is held. The Melbourne Cup is one of the most prestigious horse races in the world, and it is often referred to as the "race that stops the nation". This is because the race is so popular that it is estimated that over 80% of Australians stop what they are doing to watch the race live on television.

**The Race**

The Melbourne Cup is a handicap race, which means that the horses carry different weights based on their perceived ability. The weights are assigned by a handicapper, who takes into account the horse's age, sex, form, and breeding. The horse with the lowest weight is said to be "set to win" the race, while the horse with the highest weight is said to be "set to carry the weight of the nation".

The Melbourne Cup is a grueling race, and it is often said that it is "the hardest two miles in sport". The race is run over a distance of 3200 meters, which is approximately two miles. The horses start from a standing start, and they must run around the Flemington Racecourse twice. The race is usually run in a fast time, and the record for the race is 3:16.3, which was set by Kingston Rule in 1990.

**The Melbourne Cup Carnival**

The Melbourne Cup is the centerpiece of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival, which is a three-week long festival of horse racing and fashion. The carnival attracts over 800,000 people to Melbourne each year, and it is estimated that it generates over $3 billion for the Victorian economy.

**The Melbourne Cup Today**

The Melbourne Cup is still a very popular race, and it is estimated that over 100,000 people attend the race each year. The race is also broadcast to over 100 countries around the world.

**Interesting Facts About the Melbourne Cup**

* The Melbourne Cup is the richest "two-mile" handicap in the world.
* The Melbourne Cup is one of the richest turf races in the world.
* The Melbourne Cup is known locally as "the race that stops the nation".
* The Melbourne Cup is a grueling race, and it is often said that it is "the hardest two miles in sport".
* The Melbourne Cup is the centerpiece of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival, which is a three-week long festival of horse racing and fashion.

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