From it’s inaugural running in 1861 when it attracted just a handful of mostly local runners to the present day where it is a world famous event, each year the Melbourne Cup creates it’s own piece of history.

This year the Melbourne Cup will carry a record $6,000,000 with another $200,000 worth of trophies, with the actual Cup itself valued at $175,000.

But money can’t buy the happiness winning the great race supplies.

Affectionately known as “The race that stops a nation,” the Melbourne Cup has become one of the world’s great annual sporting traditions.

Up there with the Kings, Queens, Sheikhs and the like or down with the ordinary man in the street everybody wants a crack at “The Cup.”

And that is one of it’s great attractions, while Billionaire’s have spent a fortune on horse flesh and gone home empty the testing 3200 metre battle around Flemington has often been captured by the battling owner, trainer or jockey

Such as 1999 when one of the world’s richest men Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, with the classically bred galloper Central Park who was ridden by the world’s best jockey Frankie Dettori had to settle for second behind Rogan Josh – owned by Darwin schoolteacher Wendy Green.

After the race Wendy and her husband drove back to Darwin, stopping numerous times to share the Melbourne Cup experience in dozens of little towns along the way.

Of course money helps, last year Caravan King Gerry Ryan and his friend Kevin Bamford collected the gold with their expensive import Americain.

Americain will be back chasing his second Cup this November but he will be challenged by some of the best stayers from around the world with plenty of locals doing their best to claim the prize.

Will they relive their dream from 2010, will one of the Sheikhs finally be rewarded after decades of trying or is there another schoolteacher or the like ready for the experience we all would love to share? Either way, The Melbourne Cup is the most coveted horse race on the Australian calendar and come the first Tuesday in November, the world will be watching to see who will be bestowed with the honour of winning one of the world's most famous horse races.

In 2010 French stayer Americain took the top prize outing heavily backed local favorite So You Think (3rd) and Maluckyday (2nd)

In 2009 Shocking took home the honors giving trainer Mark Kavanagh his first Melbourne Cup.

In 2008 Viewed won one of the closest finishes to a Melbourne Cup on record.