The 2012 Melbourne Cup will be the 152nd running of the 'race that stops a nation' and the VRC will offer prize money in excess of $6,000,000 for this year's Melbourne Cup.

The Melbourne Cup takes place on the first Tuesday in November each year at Flemington racecourse in Melbourne, Victoria and is the richest handicap race in the world. A Group 1 event run over a distance of 3200 metres (2 miles), the Melbourne Cup is the most famous and recognised horse race in Australia.

More than just a horse race, Melbourne Cup day stops the nation and is a public holiday in the city of Melbourne. More than 100,000 people descend on Flemington racecourse every year creating a carnival like atmosphere to mark the occasion. The whole country comes to a standstill at 3pm on Cup day, as a new Melbourne Cup winner etches his name into the history books.

Once a year punters are out in force at spring carnival time as people all around the country like to have a flutter on the Melbourne Cup, or try their luck at a Cup sweep, and the festival atmosphere and great days racing make for one of the biggest sporting events on the Australian calendar each year.

The Melbourne Cup has risen to great heights over the years and is now a highly rated international event that attracts high class stayers from around the world, with its race status and huge prizemoney making it an attractive proposition for northern hemisphere horses.

The jewel in the crown of the 2012 Melbourne spring racing carnival, the Melbourne Cup is the highlight of the Victoria Racing Club's annual four-day carnival in November.

2012 Melbourne Cup Nominations and Dates

Nominations for the 2012 Melbourne Cup will be released in early September and the Melbourne Cup Final Field will be announced on Saturday 3rd November 2012 at the completion of the Victoria Derby Day meeting at Flemington.

2011 Melbourne Cup Nominations:	Thursday 1st September 2011
2011 Melbourne Cup Late Nominations:	Thursday 8th September 2011
2011 Melbourne Cup Handicaps Declared:	Tuesday 13th September 2011
2011 Melbourne Cup First Declaration:	Tuesday 8th October 2011
2011 Melbourne Cup Second Declaration:	Monday 24th October 2011
2011 Melbourne Cup Final Declaration:	Saturday 29th October 2011
2011 Melbourne Cup Barrier Draw:	Saturday 29th October 2011
2011 Melbourne Cup Date:	Tuesday 1st November 2011

Dates are subject to change at the discretion of the Victoria Racing Club.

Melbourne Cup Day takes place on Tuesday 6th November 2012 at Flemington racecourse and the 2012 Melbourne Cup will run as Race 7 on the card with a 3:00pm (AEST) start time.

2012 Melbourne Cup Day Program

The $6,175,000 Melbourne Cup will take place on Tuesday 6th November 2012 at Flemington racecourse over a distance of 3200 metres under handicap conditions. The 2011 Melbourne Cup was won by Dunaden from Red Cadeaux and Lucas Cranach.

#	Time	Purse	Status	Race	Distance	Race Type
1	10.20am	$101,500	LR	Agl Stakes	1000m	2yoF Sw
2	11.00am	$101,500		Schiavello Plate	1700m	Mares Hcp
3	11.45am	$101,500		Lavazza Long Black	2800m	0-95 Hcp
4	12.30pm	$151,500	LR	Herald Sun Stakes	1400m	Mares SW+P
5	1.15pm	$101,500		Schweppes Tonic 1000	1000m	3yo SW+P
6	2.00pm	$151,500	LR	Lexus Hybrid Plate	1400m	3yoF SW+P
7	3.00pm	$6,200,000	Gr1	2012 Melbourne Cup	3200m	Handicap
8	3.55pm	$151,500	LR	Johnnie Walker Stakes	1800m	Handicap
9	4.35pm	$101,500		Mss Security Sprint	1200m	Handicap
10	5.15pm	$101,500		Tabcorp Handicap	1400m	0-89 Hcp

2012 Melbourne Cup Details and Information
2012 Melbourne Cup Day	2012 Melbourne Cup Carnival
2012 Melbourne Cup Preview	2012 Melbourne Cup Betting
2012 Melbourne Cup History	2012 Melbourne Cup Free Bets
2012 Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival

2012 Melbourne Cup Carnival at Flemington

2012 Melbourne Cup Free Bet

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