A little known fact about the Melbourne Cup is that the appelation of 'The Race That Stops A Nation' is based on truth, albeit slightly distorted through the murky lens of history.
In the early years of the Colony of Victoria Governor Fitzroy was concerned about the manifold animal abuse cases which were rife throughout the environs. The car had yet to be invented and apart from the odd bicycle the horse was the preferred mode of transport for most people. Thus it was that Fitzroy decided to give all off the horses in the colony the day off. The day he chose was the first Tuesday in November. In addition to having the day off he also organised for a special penny-farthing race for the horses to watch. Horse owners from all over the colony were encouraged to bring their charges to the Flemington Field to enjoy a picnic and watch the race. On this day the industry of Victoria ground to a halt as all equine transport ceased. In the days before Federation each colony was considered a seperate country, and so began the phrase "The Race That Stops A Nation".
However by the time World War One began the days of the horse were numbered. Declining attendance numbers compounded by an acute shortage of penny-farthing parts* meant that in 1917 it was announced that the race was scrapped. Some horse owners, however, refused to accept this and gathered at Flemington anyway, racing their horses against each other. In an ironic twist of fate this endeavour proved far more watchable for humans and the race grew and grew into the iconic tradition it is today.
*This was the Kaiser's fault.
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