Preeching From the Grassy Knoll
Ditto.
The only "race that stops a nation" that most people give a shit about is the 1500 freestyle. An event that does not attract bad-hat-wearing, wine-drinking snobs and does not cause a state-wide public holoday. People stop, watch the race, then continue with their daily busines. No millions spent on promotion, booze and tv advertising.

Wold it not be great if this amount of time, effort and money be put into something more worthwhile? There are many charities and oranisations that do a fuckload of good and have no bloody funding. These organisations would grab an opportunity to get hold 1% of the money spent on the Melbourne cup so that they could do something worthwhile for the sick/dying/underpriveleged/etc. An No, don't think that any of that should be spent on gambling addiction, there are far better causes.