The Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival is a horse racing series that occurs in Melbourne during October and November (don't forget- it's Spring in Australia!). Racing season is massive here during Autumn and Spring, and receives a great deal of media attention since Footy and Cricket are not in season. The Spring Carnival is made up of a series of meetings at the metropolitan clubs, however the Victoria Racing Club's meetings are the most well known. There are four events for the Victoria Racing Club, all of which take place at Flemington race course:
1)Victoria Derby- better known as "Derby Day", takes place the Saturday before the Melbourne Cup.
2)Melbourne Cup- known as "the race that stops a nation", the Melbourne Cup is a public holiday in the state of Victoria.
3)Oaks Day- traditionally known as "ladies day"... held on the Thursday after the Melbourne Cup... this is the race I attended!
4)Stakes Day- known as "family day"... The Saturday after Oaks Day
My experience at Oaks Day was a wonderful one. Perhaps the most fun part about the races here in Melbourne is that everyone- both men and women- get dressed to the nines. The men wear suits and ties, and the ladies wear fancy dresses and hats! It is a very classy affair.
