A day at the races

Hi Oprah,
So yesterday was Melbourne Cup day. This is a day where the entire nation stops for 3.5 minutes to watch a horse race. Betts are laid and champagne is drunk. Men dress up in their best suits and women in their best frocks, heels and hats. It's a fun day where the most important decisions are around where to have lunch and what horse to bet on.
Now I'm not sure how popular attending the races in the US, but here in Australia it's quite popular to head out to Randwick Racecourse for the day throughout the Spring Carnival season.
However, these race days aren't restricted to the cities in Australia, but many rural areas also hold their own race meets. These country races end up being quite a large affair with whole communities coming together to enjoy a beer and a punt.
You must understand that some communities throughout Australia are pretty remote. There are some tiny country towns with a few hundred people living in them and are surrounded by farming & cattle stations. So a race day is a good way to get everyone into town and socialise. My town where I grew up was like this and people would travel quite far to attend race days.
Some of these small towns now have race days that are quite popular where people travel from around Australia to attend. Famous ones include the Birdsville Races (Queensland), Brunette Downs (Northern Territory) and one that is becoming more and more famous, though not really a small town but our northern most city is the Darwin Cup.
It's held every July, when the weather is warm and there is no chance of rain (it's the Dry Season). So what makes it so appealing that all the southerners, who are in the depths of winter, escape up to Darwin for a week of frivolity.
One thing that has become more apparent is that the Fashions on the Field competition is getting quite serious in Darwin with some of the most amazing creations that I think, challenge Melbourne in the fashion stakes. It's become quite competitive that even one of my friends who lives in Sydney travels to Darwin each year to enter Fashions.

If you don't believe me, have a look at Darwin Cup Fashions 2010

There are some seriously talented people living in Darwin who are milliners & dress makers which are causing the competition to get so hot!
Even though the Darwin Cup isn't on while your visiting, be sure to ask your organisers to check what Country Races are on and see if you can spend a day at one. But make sure you pack a hat or fascinator as there is a dress code. If you can't make a country race meet, then attend one at Randwick Race Course. I KNOW you will have a good time!