Anyone done the Cup day itself, what did you think? Something I'd like to have done to add to things like the F1, tennis etc, just heard that it might be a bit manic & busy. In the UK I had two very different experiences of main days of these kind of events. Cheltenham Gold Cup day was great, not too busy, easy enough to bet & get a drink whereas Grand National day was horrendous. Too busy couldn't get a drink & just plain too busy & stressful.

It's one for the bucket list.

To be honest I think Caulfield Cup / Cox Plate and Oaks are better days. Unless you're in the Birdcage or one of the other marquees you'll just end up wandering around drinking looking at all the tragics puking / pissing next to the wheelie bins / fighting...a friend of mine swears blind that she saw someone having a poo in the carpark a couple of years back

Cox Plate FTW

Completely irrelevant but National Geographic channel are doing a series on Dubai airport. Last night's episode showed the first ever A380 flight from Dubai to Melbourne in 2012 and the flight carried the Melbourne Cup trophy (which Emirates sponsors).

I've always thought for what it's worth, if you have a wish list, you tick these things off and not substitutes (Cox Plate, Caulfield Cup or whatever). Do both by all means but 'why have cotton when you can have silk'?

I've only been once, to tick it off.

And the famous TV comment which really happened - when Princess Anne presented the trophies at the Oxford/Cambridge boat race - and there's Princess Anne kissing the Cox of the winning crew.

I was invited to the Grand National last time I was in Liverpool, but 'entertainment' that consists of horses being flogged around the track, some breaking legs on the jumps and having to be put down, didn't appeal.

And before anyone says 'the horses love it' - have you asked them?

I agree, love racing but the GNat is too much.

Anyway to the op I'd just do it, it's on my bucket list too.
If traveling I can highly recommend the Dubai Gold cup in March. That was an amazing night.