The Melbourne Cup, run on the first Tuesday of November annually, has consistently drawn hundreds of thousands of spectators and Melbourne Cup general admission tickets always run out shortly after they go on sale.

Hotels and restaurants around the track fill up on the day of the race, and the whole city is in a definite state of pause when the iconic ‘race that stops a nation’ runs as Flemington Race 7 on Melbourne Cup Day. The Melbourne Cup first broke the hundred thousand spectators mark in 1926 and the record for the largest crowd in the Melbourne Cup was 122,736 in 2003. The average attendance in the last six years is 107,249. Since 2007, the Flemington Racecourse administration required race-goers to pre-purchase Melbourne Cup general admission tickets.

The succeeding Melbourne Cup races are expected to draw more spectators and punters around the world. The Melbourne Cup Carnival, running from the Saturday before the Melbourne Cup to the Saturday after, promises much more than just racing as spectators make experience all Melbourne has to offer including local museums, merchandise stores, restaurants, and other tourist attractions. The Melbourne Cup has also become the place for the latest in style and fashion, with celebrities showing up with their best dress following Melbourne cup traditions.

Melbourne Cup General Admission Tickets

The easiest way to join the fun of the Melbourne Cup is by buying general admission tickets. Since tickets easily fill up within a few weeks’ release, it is best to get the tickets early. As of 2007, all General Admission Tickets must be pre-purchased. You are not allowed to resell or scalp tickets, or use them for advertising or commercial purposes.

Students and pensioners can benefit from discounts for General Admission tickets. Students only need to bring their student ID when they buy their tickets to get the discount. Likewise, pensioners can also get a discount with their valid pensioner concession card.

Updated standard prices are found in the Melbourne Cup’s official website. The Melbourne Cup General Admission tickets also include admission to the Flemington Racecourse.

Premium Melbourne Cup Ticket Types

You can buy Melbourne Cup general admission, reserved seating, and the Banks tickets online, or you can also reserve a ticket or confirm your booking through the phone. You can choose from a wide variety of seats and sections. For example, the Banks is a section in Flemington that allows you to watch the race from the west end. For higher views, you can opt to go to the Hill stand. Covered sections are also available in the Lawn Stands and The Banks.

If this is your first time in Flemington, it is important to make the necessary ticket arrangements well before the race. Choose the section where you want to watch the race from, then grab your reserve seats.

If you wish to stay in Flemington for days other than the race itself, you can also try for General Admission tickets in packages. 2-day, 3-day, and 4-day race packages are available through online ticketing systems.

Melbourne Cup Carnival Attractions

Traditions off-the-track include the award for the best-dressed man and woman of the day. The award, called “Fashions on the Field”, gives substantial prizes for the most fashionable pair. The most important criterion in winning the award is the design of the traditionally worn hats. As a result, the fashion during race day features the most elegant hats for men and women. These hats will continue to be a tradition for many years to come.

Another feature of the Melbourne Cup tradition is the abundance of roses in and around Flemington. The course can have 12,000 blooming roses on the day of the race.