On the 1st Tuesday in November every year from about 2.45 pm onward most Australian adults down tools, leave there workstations and watch a horse race that stops a Nation. The "Melbourne Cup" was run today and where I work was no exception.
By 3 pm I was sitting comfortably in front of a big screen as horses lined up for the biggest race in the Spring racing calendar. Beside me was a plate of prawns (shrimp for the uninitiated), Pacific Rock oysters and strawberries, and in my hand was a glass of champagne. The bets had been placed, the sweep drawn now all that was left to watch the horse race.
The office was silent except for the race callers voice, no phones intruded no traffic noise from the street, for this race really stops the Nation. After the race I walked to the window to gaze out on the parking area of the complex where I work to discover that the only cars still parked there were staff members here where I work every other business had closed early.
ONLY IN AUSTRALIA could such a thing happen, where people who normally would not watch, let alone bet on a horse race, stop, bet and enjoy the excitement of it all.
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