The Melbourne Cup is set to take place at the Flemington Racecourse again on Tuesday, with people from all over the world taking part in the festivities in their own way.

It’s the time of the year when brokers are keenly observing the performances of each and every one of the participating horses, in an attempt to give the proper odds to the people who will be making their bets, whether they be professional gamblers or just a family looking to have a bit of fun.

In the past few years, several people have made a turn towards online betting, given the ease of access, not to mention the wide number of choices but also the information that is available.

But nothing can ever compare to the atmosphere your local TAB, where you can feel the whole area vibrate with the voices of people arguing about which horse is more likely to win, which is then replaced by the total silence of the race as everyone holds their breath in anticipation of their bet coming out as the winner.

In fact, as some store owners confirmed, it is the continued support of these people that keeps them afloat.

Others of course might choose to join their friends and family for a drink or some lunch to take some much needed time off, with many restaurants and bars offering special deals for the day.

This has become an increasing trend over the years, with people moving away from the racing aspect of the day and simply enjoying it as a national holiday.

READ MORE: Constantinople among favourites for Melbourne Cup

And although it might be unfortunate that it falls on a Tuesday this year, it serves as a perfect excuse to take Monday off and enjoy the whole four days to themselves, just as we’re about to enter the final stretch of the year.

But this year may not be all sugar and rainbows, with several people rumoured to be participating in protests and other types of movements for the protection of animal rights, after a number of revelations regarding the treatment of horses.

RMIT university associate professor on sports marketing Con Stavros warns that event organisers and authorities will need to stay on their toes if they hope to protect the image of the event:

“The Spring Racing Carnival is used to being in the spotlight, but 2019 brings extra scrutiny and attention that makes the job of racing authorities and their marketing teams particularly challenging. The carnival is having its timing questioned, apprehension over alcohol and gambling promotions and associations are never far away, and, perhaps most concerning of all, revelations around the treatment of racehorses has captured national attention. These factors can coalesce to potentially take some of the lustre off the carnival, particularly given consumers and rights groups are increasingly vocal about social issues and how organisations and their stakeholders respond. Event organisers must be especially vigilant to ensure that influencers, celebrities and sponsoring brands remain willing to connect themselves to the carnival.”

What about you? How are you planning to spend the day? Will you be spending it at the races, having fun with friends or are you perhaps taking part in some form of protest?

Share your images of the day with us at alex@neoskosmos.com.au and we’ll be sure to include them in our Melbourne Cup gallery!