The Melbourne Cup is often referred to as “The Race That Stops a Nation” because people all over Australia pause to watch 24 thoroughbreds race 3200 meters (1.99 miles) around the Fleimington racetrack. Whether watching the 2011 Melbourne Cup live online (see the link below), at the track (where more than 100,000 people attend) or on television it’s undeniable that the cup is the world’s most popular 2 mile race.

This year hype surrounding the race is even greater as 2010 Melbourne Cup winner Americain is a favorite to carry the race for a second consecutive year despite carrying a 58kg handicap, up 3 kilos from last year. Americain is coming off an impressive Moonee Valley Cup on October 22, a key form guide ahead of the Melbourne Cup.  If Americain wins it will be only the fifth time a horse has won the cup in consecutive years.

Speaking to AFP about his own horses chance of winning legendary Australian trainer Bart Cummings said his own thoroughbreds Precedence and Illo will be chasing Americain:

“He’s (Americain) well weighted and he’s a big strong thing, 16 hands,” Cummings said. ”The weight won’t stop him, so he’s the one to beat, I’d say.”

In the meantime some Australians have been complaining that their national race is dominated by non-regional thoroughbreds while their own field of regional horses is lacking in quality. Australia’s biggest hope is Brisbane Cup winner Tullamore who has been in good form of late. Tullamore finished second to Americain during the Moonee Valley Cup and will carry just 52kg during the Melbourne cup?

You can catch the 2011 Melbourne Cup Live online below (regional restrictions apply to the live feed):

Watch The 2011 Melbourne Cup Live Online is a post from: The Inquisitr

The race that stops the nation, the 150th running of the Melbourne Cup runs at 3pm AEST (9pm PDT), but if you can’t get to a television, or you’re outside of Australia, you can watch the Melbourne Cup online.

There’s a variety of options available to watch the Melbourne Cup online, hopefully one of these will work for you and you’ve backed the winner.

Melbourne Cup Live Online

Telstra/ TVN feed This works in Australia, not sure about outside of Australia

Australian Racing: requires a sign up but does offer a solid live stream

We’re still on the lookout for more streams, many appear closer to the race.

[Want To Watch The 2011 Event? 2011 Melbourne Cup Live Online]

Watch The Melbourne Cup Live Online is a post from: The Inquisitr

Shocking won this afternoons 149th running of the race that stops a nation, The Melbourne Cup before a huge crowd at Flemington Racecourse.

Offering odds of $9.90 on the Victorian TAB, the solid win wasn’t a huge surprise for punters, who backed it in to fourth favorite. Behind Shocking came the Irish imports Crime Scene (8) and Mourilyan (5) third.

For those lucky enough to have picked the Melbourne Cup trifecta, it paid a neat $9320.50 on the Victorian TAB.

In an interview with Channel 7 after the race, jockey Cory Brown said that the win was a “dream come through” and that he was “speechless.”

More when we have it.

Shocking Wins The Melbourne Cup is a post from: The Inquisitr

***NOTE*** IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR 2010 STREAMING DETAILS, CLICK HERE. THIS IS THE 2009 POST****

The race that stops the nation, the 149th running of the Melbourne Cup is a little over an hour away, but if you can’t get to a television, or you’re outside of Australia, you can watch the Melbourne Cup online.

Melbourne Cup Live Online: video

Australianracing.com also offers a live stream, although it’s only for registered members.

MyP2PTV has streams from two sources on this page.

Melbourne Cup Live Online: audio only

ABC Grandstand is streaming the Melbourne Cup live here.

[Want To Watch The 2011 Event? 2011 Melbourne Cup Live Online]

Watch The Melbourne Cup Live Online is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Bart Cummings trained 6 year old Viewed will enter the 149th running of the Melbourne Cup as favorite, as punters put their faith in Viewed winning the race for the second year.

As at 12:30pm AEDT, Viewed was backed into $5.10 on the Victorian TAB, pulling clear of previous joint favorite Alcopop at $6.60. Punters are convinced Bart Cummings will win either way, with the Cummings trained Roman Emporer being backed into $6.70 to be sitting as third favorite.

Rain in Melbourne overnight has left the track with a Dead rating, not wet enough to favor the mud larks, but not brilliant for the dry track specialists.

The Melbourne Cup runs at 3pm Melbourne Time.

Viewed To Start Melbourne Cup As Favorite is a post from: The Inquisitr