On Tuesday, November 1, 2011 at 3:00 p.m. (Monday, 12 midnight U.S. Eastern), millions of Australians will tune in for the 151st running of the Melbourne Cup—a race so entrenched in Aussie culture that even those who rarely give horse racing a second thought will partake in the obligatory wager.

For Aussie racing fans (not to mention breeders), it will also be a day of much lamenting, as the field of 24 this year is dominated by European-bred and/or raced horses; just three entries (The Verminator, Niwot, Older Than Time) were bred in Australia, and the usual “go-to” country for … Read More >

The 150th running of the Melbourne Cup is set for Tuesday, November 2 at 3:00 p.m. (Monday, 12 midnight U.S. Eastern), and, to put it in the Aussie vernacular, it looks to be a cracker.

As is often the case, the stories swirling around the event are both inspiring and disheartening, including the recent police inquiry involving jockey Damien Oliver, who rides Luca Cumani’s Manighar, and the tragic death of Shoot Out’s jockey Stathi Katsidis. However, no story is bigger than that of legendary trainer Bart Cummings who, along with his fellow octogenarian owner Dato Tan Chin … Read More >