[dropcap]G[/dropcap]et ready for the upcoming 2021 Melbourne Cup Carnival, a week-long event that showcases the best in food, fashion and above all, horseracing. The cream of the crop of racehorses from all over the world come to compete to see if they can win the prestigious Melbourne Cup.

There are four main races held over the carnival starting with the Victoria Derby, followed by the main event, the Melbourne Cup which is held on the first Tuesday of November every year. Next is Oaks Day on the following Thursday and then finally the Mackinnon Stakes on Saturday.

The Melbourne Cup Carnival

The Carnival is held at Flemington Racecourse which, as the name suggests, is in the suburb of Flemington in Melbourne, Australia. It is only about 6 kilometres from the Melbourne city centre. The 2021 Melbourne Cup odds are significantly aided if you employ knowledge to your repertoire of skills to pick a winner. The favourite may not turn out to be the winner and in fact, only six of the favourites in the last twenty years have become the Melbourne Cup winners, so keep that in mind if you are placing a bet.

Every event during the Melbourne Cup Carnival is busy, raucous and exciting, which means tickets to these races go fast so it is best to get in early and book your ticket if you are inclined to go. Note that each race has an official flower which you can purchase near the entrance of the racecourse. Victoria Derby has the blue cornflower, the Melbourne Cup has the yellow rose, Oaks day has the rose of any colour and the Mackinnon Stakes has the red rose.

Transportation

There are multiple ways to get to Flemington Racecourse. You can drive to the event but it is not recommended. Public transport is the best way to go, especially if you are partaking in a few glasses of bubbles. The rail network in Melbourne expands to all the outer suburbs so even if you are at the farthest reaches it only takes a couple of train changes to get to the venue. The trains are reliable in Melbourne and run on time even on Melbourne Cup day which is a public holiday in Victoria. The tram line in Melbourne surprisingly also goes to the outer suburbs and there are two stations right next to the Flemington Racecourse.

Fashion

The Carnival doesn’t necessarily have a strict dress code but some traditions are adhered to for each event. The Victoria Derby necessitates the wearing of black, white and grey outfits for both men and women. The Melbourne Cup hosts the ‘Fashions on the Field’ competition, where people can enter the competition in their best get-up and win some prizes. Oaks Day, which is also known as ‘Ladies Day,’ is the prime event for fashion. It also hosts a ‘Fashions on the Field’ competition but the whole day, besides the racing, is focused on what people bring to the table when it comes to fashion.

The Myer Fashions on your Front Lawn is a fashion event that allows people from all over Australia to partake in the festivities even if they cannot get to the event in Melbourne. It began in 2018 when it was decided that people everywhere should be able to be involved.

Attending the Melbourne Cup Carnival is a rite of passage for most Victorians, and is an event worth experiencing at least once in your lifetime.