The 2011 Melbourne Cup race date is scheduled as Tuesday November 1, 2011 as the showcase event on the horse racing calendar at the famous Flemington Racecourse in Victoria.

Worth over $6 million in prize money, the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) is the richest and most prestigious race conducted in Australia each year and is the headline event of the four-day Melbourne Cup Carnival.

Each year the Melbourne Cup takes place at approximately the same time and the 2011 Melbourne Cup is set to run as Flemington Race 7 on the first Tuesday in November, with the Melbourne Cup race time set at 3:00pm (AEDST).

Early Melbourne Cup 2011 betting markets have Maluckday installed as the favourite to win this year’s staying showdown.

The Hawkes-trained Zabeel gelding burst onto the racing scene last spring scoring victory in the Group 3 The Lexus Stakes (2500m) on Derby Day before running second to Americain in the 2010 Melbourne Cup result.

Other top fancies in the futures Melbourne Cup odds include the Lloyd William-owned grey Linton, defending Melbourne Cup winner Americain, reigning Victoria Derby winner Lion Tamer and Ciaron Maher’s Warrnambool galloper Moudre.

Official 2011 Melbourne Cup nominations close on August 2, 2011 followed by three rounds of declarations before the Melbourne Cup final field of acceptances is released on Saturday October 29, 2011.

2011 Melbourne Cup Nomination & Declaration Dates*

• Nominations: 2 August 2011
• Late Nominations: 9 August 2011
• Handicaps Declared: 31 August 2011
• First Declaration: 6 September 2011
• Second Declaration: 4 October 2011
• Third Declaration: 24 October 2011
• Final Declaration: 29 October 2011
• Barrier Draw: 29 October 2011
• Race Day: 1 November 2011

* Dates are approximate until confirmed by VRC

Races.com.au will be the definitive site for punters during the 2011 Melbourne Cup Carnival keeping our readers up to date with the latest Melbourne Cup 2011 news, field updates, betting markets, odds, form and tips.

Leading online bookmaker Luxbet will have all the 2011 Melbourne Cup odds and markets open months in advance so make sure you sign up with them and back this year’s Melbourne Cup winner at the best price through Luxbet!