The mane event

Today was Melbourne Cup day, a state-wide public holiday in Victoria. Though we live in New South Wales, Melbourne Cup is watched nationwide. Some call it 'the race that stops a nation.'

Melbourne Cup is a 3200-metre race for horses three years old and over, conducted by the Victoria Racing Club on the Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Victoria, and is part of the Spring Racing Carnival.

Melbourne Cup is always run on the first Tuesday in November and is scheduled to start at 3pm. So transport yourself to a Saturday evening in May where you have some friends over dressed in your Derby finest, flip on the Kentucky Derby and throw back a mint julep or four. This is Melbourne Cup. But on a Tuesday. Mid-day.

My office put on a lovely spread and blocked out our diary for a small spring celebration.

The race is quite long by comparison to the Derby -- it lasts for about 3 minutes.

This year's winner was Vow and Declare, the first Australian-bred winner of the Melbourne Cup since Shocking in 2009. Here's a video with highlights.

Julie works for a rather socially conscious company, so we also raised funds for the Racing NSW Equine Welfare Fund. We raised about $15 to help care for thoroughbred horses at every stage of life.

More soon!