the melbourne cup is australia's major horse race. it happens once a year. people say it is "the race that stops a nation", it is for horses three-years-old and over, and it is 3200 metres long. the event has been held on the first tuesday in november since 1861 (except on one year during the second world war) by the victoria racing club, on the flemington racecourse in melbourne. many people say it is the most important "two-mile" horse race in the world.