Melbourne Cup - Expats Perspective

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The Melbourne Cup, billed as "the race that stops a nation", could quite possibly be the best sporting event in all of Australia. It's similar to the Kentucky Derby with all of the money, pageantry and ceremony that goes with a huge horse race. The biggest difference seems to be that EVERYBODY here actually cares about it! The work day is done by noon and the bars are all holding race day events with everyone dressing up in their best regalia and placing bets on horses with sweet names like Shocking, Crime Scene and my favorite AlcoPop (named after a popular category of sweet pre-mixed alcohol drinks - think Mad Dog 20/20 gone respectable). The men wear dapper suits with striped ties. The women accessorize their classy Spring skirts with huge hats and headdress. The attire kind of reminds me of Sunday service at Baptist church without all the "Yes Lords" and hand fans.

Pre-race entertainment started with a bit of a blast from the past with Olivia Newton-John performing. Personally it was great seeing Olivia Newton-John perform...right up until I recognized that she was singing the theme song from Xanadu (google it). Didn't that movie come out when Jimmy Carter was still President? An Aussie friend of mine once remarked to me that Australia is known for holding tight to its celebrities a bit beyond their past due date. Olivia looked great but that song may have just proved the point.

Entertainment aside the best part of the day is really about betting on the ponies! Everyone throws a few bucks on the ponies and the lines are constantly being updated on TV and all the major media portals. I always think it's refreshing when amateurs, the underworld, and addicts can come together and participate in the same activity without scorn or ridicule.

While personally I'm probably closer to a City Slicker than a Cowboy I must say that the excitement that accompanies the Melbourne Cup is palpable in these parts and has me intrigued. Maybe a DNA test will reveal that I've got some bloodlines running from those original Cowboys of African American descent who tamed the Southwestern United States...or I just really like the thought of cold beers at noon and blowing off work. Probably the latter. Either way I'll be ready come next year's Cup. Maybe I'll even head down to Melbourne to take part. Look for the brotha in the lime green preacher's Caddy, zoot suit and fedora.


Black2Oz out.