If you think you put a lot of planning into your Melbourne Cup day, spare a thought for those actually putting the Cup together. From gallons of champagne to mountains of oysters, nothing is in moderation at Australia's main horse race.
Flemington Racecourse, where the race is held, has been working for a year to get itself up to scratch for the 3 p.m. starting gun.
Peter Rowland, who handles catering at the race track, told AAP the logistics of such a day are out of control -- and that it took an army of people to get it just right.
Here's how this event stops Australia in its tracks, told in eye-popping statistics.
330,000 racegoers flock to Flemington Racecourse during the four-day Melbourne Cup carnival.
200 carpenters, 200 painters and 200 electricians work on the marquees in the Birdcage.
The theme for the @SofitelMelbourn marquee in the Birdcage is 'Blue Moon'. #SpringRacingCarnival pic.twitter.com/oriX92QZzQ— Renata Kopinski (@Renatakopinski) November 3, 2014
4,000 hospitality staff service the event, including 1,000 chefs.
Today it's all about the horses ... Or food?! @myer @FlemingtonVRC #birdcage #MelbourneCup #bestbrioche pic.twitter.com/1Ro4cow7bP— Cath Webber (@cathwebber) November 4, 2014
16,000 rose bushes create the perfect look for this beautiful spring day.
Celebrities and cashed-up punters party in more than 375 marquees.
46,570 bottles of champagne are consumed.
750 dozen (or 9,000) oysters are shucked.
8,900 chicken sandwiches keep the crowd fed.
59,800 party pies and sausage rolls soak up the champagne.
Testing sausage rolls for Melbourne Cup @3weedsrozelle pic.twitter.com/5KMwFKlrFt— Lauren Murdoch (@Lauren_Mmm) October 30, 2013
155kg of chocolate is devoured.
Some of the stunning treats available within the @emirates #BirdCage Marquee throughout the #MelbCupCarnival pic.twitter.com/AJeJXI79Xf— Spring Carnival (@springcarnival) October 30, 2014
31,600 scones are baked -- though we can't be sure how many cronuts will make an appearance.
@FlemingtonVRC Introducing the cronut! @myer marquee rolls out croissant-donut creation #birdcage #MelbourneCup pic.twitter.com/YfwXrhYMCt— Cath Webber (@cathwebber) November 3, 2014
2,150 kg of beef, 1,100 kg lamb, 1,600 kg of fish and 2,100 kg of chicken and turkey is munched on.
Champagne & lunch @GHMUMMAU #MelbCupCarnival pic.twitter.com/PjFmCc805V— Peter Rowland (@peterrowlandAU) November 7, 2013
While you can get stuck on the decorations and the caviar, the Melbourne Cup race is meant to be the focus of the day. Here are some quick facts to help you pick a winner -- and have something to talk about when the conversation runs dry and the champagne hits your head.
1 horse has won the race three times -- Makybe Diva in 2003, 2004 and 2005.
The Melbourne Cup has a maximum of 24 starters.
The horses race for 3,200 metres.
What a stunning #Melbourne day for the race that stops the nation. 2014 #MelbCupCarnival @FlemingtonVRC pic.twitter.com/WiljgfCHkp— #CrownMelbourne (@crownmelbourne) November 3, 2014
Three black horses and six grey horses have won the Cup.
Reddish-brown (bay) horses have won 65 Melbourne Cups.
The saddlecloth numbers 4 and 12 have won the Cup 11 times each.
Did you know? Record #MelbourneCup crowd is 122,736 in 2003, Makybe Diva's 1st Cup win. More: http://t.co/YJKLPUlUEz pic.twitter.com/JEX6J6oanw— Racing.com (@Racing) October 27, 2014
Blue silks have produced the most winners, taking the Cup 40 times.
A record of eight horses have won from Barrier 11 since 1924. Gate 18 has not produced a single Melbourne Cup winner since barriers were introduced.
A$6,200,000 was won in prize money last year.
Whatever the outcome, all Australia will stop what they are doing and tune in to the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday at 3 p.m. AEDT.
