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While the Melbourne Cup and the Australian racing calendar as a whole revolve around the race that stops the nation, there’s plenty of other entertainment and activities around Flemington to keep race goers occupied.
The racecourse has a new entertainment centre on Cup day and across the whole Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Melbourne Cup live updates, result
The Park will be the area to host plenty of live music and activities on the day, with stuff to occupy the kids as well while you hit the bar.
There will be two main music acts at The Park on race day, both in the afternoon after the Cup is run.
Young up and coming Australian singer Betty Who will come on at 4:30pm as the curtain raiser, finishing at 4:50pm and will be followed by Aussie music legend Marcia Hines, playing a one-hour set from 5:10pm to 6:10pm.
A number of DJs and local talent will be littered throughout the day to keep the crowd going and the music flowing on a stacked ten-race card.
The vintage ferris wheel and carousel will both be in action if you want to go for a ride, or if you’re too drunk and need to sit down somewhere for a moment.
The kids can get into the face paint and pony rides as well.
The national anthem is always a point of pride and tradition at any sporting event, and it’s no different for the biggest horse race in the country. In this case Dami Im will be charged with the honour of belting out the song. It’s one of the biggest anthem-singing appointments in the country, so hopefully this time Dami is able to show up!
With an extended one hour gap between races six and seven (the Cup), the anthem will be sung after the jockeys are introduced and before the field heads out to the track.
The scheduling of the day is always changing with race start delays and various other factors, but the anthem should be belted out around 2:50-2:55pm.
Another major facet of the races anywhere across the world is the fashion. The chance to pull on your best suit or get your hands on the most outlandish fascinator you can find.
Fashions in the field is always a highlight of the Spring Carnival and a large event for sponsors and budding models.
There are four categories across the Melbourne Cup Carnival, being the Women’s Racewear which incorporates state winners from the National Competition, Men’s Racewear, the invitation-only Design Award and Millinery Award.
These categories are spread out across the four major race meets during the carnival.
For the Melbourne Cup, the Women’s Racewear heats will be shown off throughout the day leading up to the final on Oak’s Day.
The Design Award will also be showcased, with the finale and winner coming out of the day.
All of the fashions in the field will take place in the new aforementioned The Park area at Flemington Racecourse.
We’ll also be running a live blog of the Melbourne Cup Day fashions, so stay tuned for that!
Now, the frivolities aren’t just limited to Melbourne on this massive day of racing. Sydney’s Randwick Racecourse has nine live races of their own to complement the action happening at Flemington.
Of course, the Melbourne Cup is still the premier event of the day, and Randwick-goers will be able to watch it on their massive ‘super-screen’, the largest of its type in the southern hemisphere.
Randwick will also have a massive sweep for the Melbourne Cup, with a prize pool of up to $5000, as well as the Style Stakes and complimentary makeup touch-ups for the fashion-conscious racegoers out there.
Similarly, Brisbane’s Eagle Farm Racecourse also has nine races of its own on November 1, as well as the action from Flemington on what they claim is the largest screen in the southern hemisphere.
There’s also live music, plenty of food and free makeup stations around the course.
Similar events are also on offer in Adelaide (Morphettville), and Perth (Ascott), with live racing, live music and fashion contests available at both racecourses, along with live entertainment and all the races from Flemington shown as it happens.
To be honest, there’s hardly going to be a racecourse in Australia not getting in on the Melbourne Cup Day action, so if you feel like a day at the races, you can always hit up your local track.
Of course, if you can’t make it out for the day of racing, The Roar is your place for all the coverage and highlights throughout the day.
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