New Zealand's favourite betting event of the year gets out of the starting blocks today.
Last year, more than one million bets were placed at the TAB.
TAB spokesman Mark Stafford says it's the biggest race on New Zealand's calendar and early signs show last year's betting numbers could be exceeded.
"My crystal ball hasn't told me exactly how many, but I feel like we're on a path for last year of a million bets and just to tick over $10 million on the race," he says.
Mr Stafford says 90 percent of the bets will come in today.
There are three New Zealand-bred horses running in the Melbourne Cup this year. They are:
The seven-year-old was bred by White Robe Lodge’s Brian and Lorraine Anderton in North Taieri, Mosgiel. This will be Who Shot Thebarman's third tilt at the Melbourne Cup – he finished third in the 2014 race.
The only New Zealand-trained, bred and owned starter in this year's Melbourne Cup, Pentathlon is being prepared by Kiwi training legend John Wheeler from New Plymouth. He will be ridden by New Zealand Jockey Mark Du Plessis.
A former New Zealand-trained mare who has won six races from 37 starts.
There are also three Kiwi jockeys riding in the race:
Newshub.
