Is there a public holiday for the Melbourne Cup?

The Melbourne Cup may be known as "the race that stops the nation", but not everyone gets the day off work to watch the big event.

Only one state has officially made Melbourne Cup Day a public holiday, and that's Victoria.

Even then, some non-metro councils in Victoria have organised alternative public holidays so residents can celebrate their own local spring carnivals, such as Bendigo Cup Day on October 30 and Geelong Cup Day on October 23.

Other Victorian councils with alternative public holidays include Moyne Shire Council, Warrnambool City Council and Mildura Rural City Council.

When is today's race?

The 164th Melbourne Cup is always held on the first Tuesday in November and this year is no exception.

That means the race will be run this afternoon at Flemington Racecourse.

The race will start at 3pm in Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra and Hobart. 

If you're in Darwin it will be 1.30pm, 2pm for those in Brisbane and 2.30pm in Adelaide.