On the first Tuesday of November, Australians across the nation stop to celebrate this major annual horse event. But the $5.1 million Emirates Melbourne Cup is more than just a horse race - it is a 145-year old social and cultural tradition that literally brings Australia to a standstill.

The race draws competitors from all over the world with the annual invasion of northern hemisphere-trained stayers making it a truly international event.

The Emirates Melbourne Cup now attracts a worldwide television audience of around 700 million people in 120 countries and territories while millions more either view or listen to the event via the internet.

The Cup is the linchpin of the Victoria Racing Club's annual four-day Cup Carnival and the highlight of Victoria's state wide Spring Racing Carnival.