Originally Posted by Cardus

Tradition is the only answer that I have for you. I'll ask some Aussies and tell you their responses.

Cup day might be a national holiday of some sort (unofficial). The race really does "stop the nation." Nearly everyone watches or listens to the race.

I just read the main newspapers in Melbourne and Sydney. An awful lot of attention paid to the future consequences of a foreigner not only winning, but running 1-2 in the Cup.

Sound familiar?