How to Experience the Melbourne Cup 2021

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With Australia's largest annual sporting event right around the corner, punters across the country have been busy doing their own research in time to place their bets on race number seven at 3pm on the first Tuesday of November.

Even in the face of the city's ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, Melbournians are well and truly gearing up for the 2021 Melbourne Cup in a big way, with fans of the cup adamant to make the most of the event this year in the wake of its cancellation in 2020.

Even so, there are still COVID-safe limitations in place for 2021's Spring Racing Carnival, meaning only a fraction of Cup Day fans will be able to attend the highly anticipated race.

Rest assured, if you're unable to secure yourself one of the 10,000 tickets that are up for grabs, you can still enjoy all the excitement and citywide festivities of Cup Day in your own way.

Here's how to experience the Melbourne Cup this year with or without setting foot on the grounds at Flemington.

Any seasoned Cup Day attendees know that preparing for the Melbourne Cup is half the fun of the event itself!

There's something undeniably glamorous about dressing up to the nines to spend a day out in sunny Flemington.

Coupled with the delicate scent of the fresh roses that line the walkways of the Flemington race course, the sheer atmosphere of Cup Day in itself can oftentimes be just as much of a thrill as the races!

Fashion-forward Cup Day fans will still make their best efforts to participate in the style and glamour of the races even if physically heading to Flemington is out of the question.

At the end of the day, there's no better opportunity to dust out your spring wardrobe following the chill of Melbourne's lengthy winters and post your stylistic picks of the year on social media under Cup Day's signature at-home hashtags.

Just because you're watching from home, it doesn't mean you have to miss out on all the excitement of watching your favourite events in this coming Spring Racing Carnival.

With a good home entertainment set-up and plenty of wine and cheese, you'll be able to reclaim all the thrills of Cup Day at Flemington right from the comfort of your own home.

Consider inviting your friends and family around to join in on your homegrown festivities together. Even kids can join in on the fun with some family-friendly Cup Day activities, like arts and crafts, backyard racing, and creating signature Cup Day foods and decorations.

Alongside being a staple in Australia's sporting culture, Cup Day has also always been a fantastic event for Aussies to show support for their local community as well.

It's common for Aussie small business owners to organise their own Cup Day deals and celebrations, urging their wider community to come and participate in the day's shared festivities.

If your local pub is hosting its own Cup Day festivities, it may be well worth attending and having a beer or two as you watch the races with your friends.

Any other local eateries or community spaces that may be hosting their own Cup Day festivities are bound to be fantastic additions to your Cup Day itinerary and will ensure you and your family won't be celebrating this exciting annual event in isolation.

From events in metropolitan Melbourne to regional Victoria, there's never a shortage of things to do on Cup Day, so it's recommended that you take the time to explore Cup Day events across your local community.

Finally, it's not Cup Day without placing a well-informed bet or two. Placing your bets on Derby Day can be a thrill in itself, especially if you're a veteran punter who's put many hours into scouring tips online, watching international racing events, and reading up on your favourite horses and riders.

You don't need to be a seasoned punter, however, to enjoy a little flutter on a horse that stands out to you.

If you want to bring a little sense of community, competition, and camaraderie to your Cup Day this year, it may also be worthwhile organising a little independent sweepstakes with your mates or co-workers.

Melbourne Cup sweeps can be organised to suit parties of any size, ranging from whole companies to a handful of friendly participants. Whatever scale you plan your sweepstakes to be, there's no denying that the fun of participating in a little friendly flutter is part of the magic behind the race that stops the nation in itself.

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Even if you're not able to snag a ticket to this year's Cup, or if the Cup experiences some extra roadblocks due to Melbourne's ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, there's still no denying that punters and fashion-forward Cup fans alike will still be able to enjoy the Cup Day long weekend with their friends and families.

November 2 is also expected to be quite a lovely Spring day for Melbourne. With this in mind, it's well worth packing a picnic so you can soak in the sun, and still enjoy the electric atmosphere of race day alongside Cup Day's cheery springtime weather. There can truly be no better contingency plan.

Gamble responsibly. Contact the Gambling Helpline for free and confidential support, information and counselling on 1800 858 858 or visit www.gamblinghelponline.org.au.