Home Sports Melbourne Cup: A Quick Guide To Australia’s Derby Day

Melbourne Cup: A Quick Guide To Australia’s Derby Day

November 17, 2021

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The Melbourne Cup carnival is just a matter of days away now. If you’re a horse racing fan, your level of anticipation is probably intensifying by the minute, and it should. The occasion is an action-packed, once-in-a-year event, which might be your chance to rejuvenate your sporty senses and have lots of fun.

This year, Melbourne Cup week will be running from 30th October to 6th November. The week hosts four major days:

Victoria Derby Day: Commonly known as Derby Day
Melbourne Cup Day: Cup Day
Crown Oaks Day: Oaks Day
Emirates Stakes Day: Stakes Day

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Derby day ushers in the carnival week, and for this reason, this article will give you a quick guide through what to expect on the day and what you, as a fan, can do to make the most out of it.

Date and time

Derby day is usually on the Saturday leading to the week of Cup day. The 2021 Melbourne Cup will be held on Tuesday, 2nd November. Derby day will, therefore, take place on Saturday, 30th October. The specific time for the horse race, however, is yet to be announced.

If you’re hoping to catch the races live, make sure to stay updated with the latest from your preferred sports channels. The D-day is just a few days away, so expect official communication for the time of the races at any moment.

You can also watch videos at https://www.youtube.com/c/PuntersAustralia to keep yourself apprised of any development.

Venue

As of 30th October, all roads will be leading to the Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne City, Victoria. This is the venue for Melbourne Cup carnival activities, which are organized by the Victorian Racing Club.

According to Victoria’s Racing minister, a fan base of up to 5,500 fully vaccinated people will be allowed in at Flemington on Derby Day. If you plan on being among this number, you’ll be required to present your COVID-19 certificate or immunization history statement as proof of your vaccination. You’ll also be required to have your mask on at all times. (2)

You’d also want to make it to the tracks very early to secure yourself a good spot. 5,500 is quite a huge number, and the fact that spectators weren’t allowed in the racecourse last year suggests that many of them will be boiling with the urge to witness the events live this year.

Dress code

The Melbourne Cup carnival always offers a platform for attendees to embrace fashion, and this year’s version won’t be any different. If you’ve been dreaming of when you’ll step outside in that sleek dress or suit, here’s your golden chance. The theme colors for Derby day are black, white, or an occasional grey here and there. Generally, attendees tend to stick to a monochrome theme. (3)

Men and boys over twelve years old usually step out in a suit or tailored pants with a coat, jacket, or blazer, and a tie or bow tie. You can complement this look with a pair of shiny dress shoes. For ladies, you can maintain a casual to formal dress code. A formal black-and-white dress goes well with black or white heels, wedges, or boots. You can accessorize your entire look with a hat and a clutch.

Keep yourself up to speed with the weather forecast though, and dress in a manner appropriate to the weather.

The race

The Victoria Derby is a 2500m race held for spring three-year-old horses. Some reports indicate that it’s among the toughest races ever for horses this age. The horses are expected to compete for about two and a half minutes, all the way maintaining speed, endurance, and the determination to win. This makes the race very important in the horses’ careers. Records show previous winners advancing to winning Caulfield or Melbourne Cups later on in their racing spheres.

WROCLAW, POLAND – APRIL 15; 2018: Race for three years and older horses III group at Racecourse WTWK Partynice. The opening day of the season.

The Victoria Derby is one of the richest Derbys in Australia, with prize money of AUD$ 2million. The record keeper for the fastest horse is Fiveandahalfstar, who set a 2:35.92 clock record back in 2012. From thereon, all eyes have been on the participating horses, with everyone eager to see which one of them may break the record. (4)

Betting

For a successful betting experience, you’ll have to do in-depth research on horses, jockeys, and other variables. You’ll also need some good luck, as is the case with most punters. To improve your chances of winning, here are some betting tricks you can put to use to try out your luck:

Follow up on the lead-races: These include the Caulfield Guineas, Caulfield Classic, Geelong Classic, and Moonee Valley Vase. Most of the horses that perform well in these races have a high chance of winning the Derby race.
The horse: A good horse with great track history will most of the time perform well and may come out as the winner. Get yourself acquainted with the telltale signs that your horse is the potential winner before laying your odds on it.
Don’t bank it all on the favorites: Past results show that very few favorites take the first position in these races.
The jockey: A jockey’s contribution to the overall performance of the horse is significant. Therefore, to increase your chances of winning, consider good jockeys––the likes of Damien Oliver and Hugh Bowman.
The Derby Day form guide: This will keep you a step ahead of most of the other punters, as it highlights the vitals of the horses, and, therefore, gives you a reasonable ground area to work from.

Conclusion

The Melbourne Cup 2021 is expected to ‘stop the Australian nation,’ as it always does. However, preceding it will be the Victoria Derby, and this will also raise so much excitement in the hearts of racers, fans, and punters globally.

By participating in Derby Day, you can be part of the 5,500 people that’ll set off the cup week at Flemington this coming Saturday. Make sure you’re vaccinated and take all the necessary precautions. Get your tickets, if you haven’t already, and go out to witness the event. And if you’re a punter, gather as many tips as you can before laying your wager. You wouldn’t want to start the cup week off with losses.

And if you have a successful Derby Day, don’t drain off your energy just yet, as the week would just have begun. Plenty more days are to follow, all filled with fun and excitement, including the biggest of all, Melbourne Cup Day.