Australian racing’s showpiece event is the annual Melbourne Cup Carnival, a four-day festival where the country’s most anticipated racedays featuring our elite turf champions light up the track at Flemington, and the dates for the 2011 Melbourne Cup Carnival have been released.

The Melbourne Cup Carnival will kick off on Saturday October 29, 2011 with Victoria Derby Day.

A day for racing purists, Derby Day is headlined by the $1.5 million Victoria Derby (2500m) which is the richest race for three-year-olds held in Melbourne for the season.

Victoria Derby Day is host to a bumper day of Group racing with other highlights including the $1 million Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) and the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m).

Next up at the Carnival is the day where stars are born, Melbourne Cup Day, held on Tuesday November 1, 2011.

The jewel in the Australian racing crown runs on this day, the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m), worth over $6 million in prize money it is the richest handicap race in the world.

Early favourites to become the 2011 Melbourne Cup winner include last year’s winner Americain and runner-up Maluckyday.

The race meeting unofficially known as Ladies Day follows on the Thursday after the Melbourne Cup with Crown Oaks Day on November 3.

A day packed full of fashion, fun and fillies, the headline event at the meet is the $1 million Group 1 Crown Oaks (2500m).

Finally the Melbourne Cup Carnival comes to a close on Saturday November 5 with the 2011 Emirates Stakes Day.

Emirates Stakes Day is the festival’s family day but the racing action is still top-class as the $1 million Group 1 Emirates Stakes (1600m), one of the most lucrative mile features held in Australia, takes place.

The other highlight event on the Emirates Stakes Day programme is the Group 1 Patinack Farm Classic (1200m), a brilliant sprint showdown that was won by glamour mare Black Caviar last year.

Below are the dates for the Melbourne Cup Carnival 2011.

Early betting on the Group 1 features held during the festival open months in advance at online bookmakers such as Luxbet.

So make sure you’re ready for the best Cup Carnival to date by opening your Luxbet account today.

2011 Melbourne Cup Carnival Dates

• AAMI Victoria Derby Day – Saturday October 29, 2011

• Emirates Melbourne Cup Day – Tuesday November 1, 2011

• Crown Oaks Day – Thursday November 3, 2011

• Emirates Stakes Day – Saturday November 5, 2011