The Melbourne Cup is Australia's major annual thoroughbred horse race. Billed as "The race that stops a nation", it is for three-year-olds and over, and covers a distance of 3,200 metres. It is generally regarded as the most prestigious "two-mile" handicap in the world.

The Melbourne Cup is held on the first Tuesday in November by the Victoria Racing Club, on the Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne. 

It is estimated that around 80 per cent of the adult Australian population bet on the race, and for some of those it truly does live up to it's billing as 'The race that stops a nation' as race day is a designated Bank Holiday.

Many bookmakers offer free bets on the Melbourne Cup including Centrebet, Canbet, Ladbrokes, StanJames, Blue Square and Bet365