It was difficult enough back in the day for the once-a-year Melbourne Cup watcher to get a handle on racing’s peculiarities for that one day every 12 months.
Filling out a TAB ticket was as confusing as scoring at local cricket. Tips came at you harder than the next morning’s headache. Queues stretched out of TAB branches on Tuesday morning. But the ritual was set, and all Joe or Joanne Average had to do was settle in the running to get through the day.
Fans enjoy the races at FlemingtonCredit: Justin McManus
Here is our guide to help you experience Australia’s greatest race …
How to bet
Of course gamble responsibly, but be aware that the TAB outlet or a pub are not the only place you can lay a bet. Most of the action happens on phones with a huge array of online bookmaking firms available if you download their app and follow the directions.
You can’t, under sensible new laws, use credit cards to put money into many accounts so you will need a way to have a deposit, which you can limit and then bet win (your horse must win), place, each-way (you receive a dividend if your horse finishes in the top three), quinella (first two home in any order), exacta (first two home in exact order), trifecta (first three home) or first four (do I need to explain that?). You can also get mystery bets at TABs if studying weights, form, barriers, jockeys or trainers is not the way you want to spend your time.
And remember the Melbourne Cup is race 7 at Flemington. If you know that and the number of the horse you aim to back, you will find a way.
Also understand that if a horse is paying $6 the win, then you will receive $6 for every dollar you place on the horse if it wins. Obviously, the higher the odds, a figure determined by experts based on where punters place their money or via a pool that spits out the odds, the more reward because the higher-priced horses are considered for a whole range of reasons less chance to win.
The favourites for this year’s race at No.1 Vauban (he was favourite last year but struggled) and Buckaroo (can he run two miles?). More often than not, the most fancied runners are the lower numbers, but because the Melbourne Cup is a handicap the idea is for the official handicapper to give each horse the right weight based on form and ability to give every horse an equal chance of winning.
