in melbourne, the race day is a public holiday. in the rest of australia most people watch the race on television and gamble. some people bet at the tab (the australian betting office). other people bet in workplace cup "sweeps". (in "sweeps" each person pays a small amount [e.g. $3] and draws a random horse. first, second, and third place then share the money.) in 2000 it was estimated that 80 percent of the adult australian population placed a bet on the race that year.