Three Weeks to the Melbourne Cup

The countdown to the running of the 2007 Melbourne Cup is well and truly on as thoroughbreds are readied for Australia's richest and most famous horse race.

Twenty-four qualifiers will line up for the start of the race in the afternoon of November 6, the first Tuesday of November, and as the horses' hooves thunder on the track of Melbourne's Flemington Racecourse, all Australia has its eyes glued on the race, whether it be at Flemington itself or via television.

Due to the outbreak of equine influenza in New South Wales and Queensland, Melbourne Cup doubts had been expressed. Because of the horse flu outbreak, no horses from New South Wales or Queensland will be allowed to cross state borders into Victoria.

Horses already in Victoria will, of course, be allowed to race in the Victorian spring and Melbourne Cup racing carnivals which reach their peak with the Melbourne Cup.

The final list of Melbourne Cup runners will not be known until after the last race on Victoria Derby Day on November 3.

• Australia's Biggest Horse Racing Event
• Melbourne Cup Day
• The Runing of the Melbourne Cup
• Melbourne Cup Photo Gallery
• Flemington Racecourse
• Melbourne Cup 2007
• Where to Stay in Melbourne

Photo: The running of the Melbourne Cup © Tourism Victoria