Pubs and clubs across town are expecting a hectic afternoon with Glen Innes punters dressed in their finest and celebrating Australia’s greatest horse race. 

If people aren’t out and about on the day they are sure to be glued to their televisions or engrossed in their radio’s come race time.

The Cup continues to grow into arguably the biggest sporting event in the nation on par with the popularity of the NRL and AFL grand finals. 

Foreign favourites for this year’s cup are Japanese raiders Fair Game and Hokko Brav, English raiders Red Cadeaux , Trip To Paris, and Snow Sky, and Irish stayer Amralah.

Local hopes could hang on last year’s Group 1 Melbourne Derby winner Preferment, and also Who Shot The barman, Criterion and Rising Romance.

This year’s cup will be tinged with sadness due to the recent passing of cup's king Bart Cummings.

MOREE: AS Melbourne cup day is upon us so is fashion on the field and the fashion trends are changing. 

Fashion on the field is not only an undisputed institution of the Melbourne Cup Carnival; it has established its place as Australia’s largest and most prestigious outdoor fashion event. 

Last year for fashion on the field it was all about bright, flamboyant colours and 50’s dresses and skirts with bold and geometric prints.

Hats were in but were petite, made out of plastic or feathers. Just Red owner, Julie Lockyer said for women to keep it classy.

“Knee length or below with dresses or skirts, lace is definitely back in.

"It’s very much about fascinators this year, but make sure you match the era of the dress to the fascinator,” she said.

For the men, it was very much the same last year. 

Bright, vibrant suits and ties. 

“This year men should wear more neutral muted tones, pale blues, browns and natural colours. 

You can get away with bowties this year. 

If you have a partner coming with you on the day match the tie to the dress.” 

If you do want to watch fashion on the field this year it will be on channel 7 between 10.15am and 11am.

TENTERFIELD: Spring has sprung and that means racing season for many Tenterfield people.

Stylish dresses, fabulous fascinators and dangerously high heels will be the order of the day for the ladies, whilst snazzy suits will be worn by the local men all chasing a winner on Melbourne Cup day.

The race that stops a nation is all about the fashion for some and frivolity for others.

There will be a few choices for locals to get out and about and have a pint, a punt and a bit of fun on the day.

The Commercial Boutique Hotel is a great place to stop for some beautiful food and drink,  it has a lovely atmosphere with beautiful surrounds and you and your friends could easily stay all race day.

Justin Sibley from the Commercial said they will be showing the race on two big screens in the Curve Bar.

“We will also have prizes for the best dressed couple and for the most creative fascinators, so it should be a fun day if you spend it with us.”

Fairways Restaurant at the Tenterfield Golf Club will be hosting a buffet lunch with dessert for the day.

They will also hand out a complimentary glass of champagne and cup sweep upon arrival and while there is a break between races you can look out over one of the finest fairways in New South Wales.

Tenterfield Tavern will have prizes for best dressed on the day and will have sweeps and drink specials available.

If you’d like to spend your Melbourne Cup day at the Tenterfield Bowling club they are encouraging patrons to dress to impress.

The Bowlo will have a variety of seafood specials and live music from 4pm for those who want to dance the night away after the race.

A BIG day at the races can be an endurance test for even the most resilient two-legged filly and her outfit. Here are some tips to increase your staying power. 

Shoes: shoes must be lovely and compliment your outfit, but consider practical­ities too. Keep in mind you are on your feet for most of the day so comfort is a pri­ority. If shoes are new make sure you have worn them at least once before race day. 

Ensure you have gel pads to cushion the balls of your feet. Insoles, heel liners, anti-slip heel inserts and heel cushions are great so stock up and take a couple extra as well as some band-aids. 

If all else fails bring fold­up ballet flats or thongs, in the handbag for real pain emergencies. 

Hats and fascinators: keeping your hat or head­piece in place all day and styling the hair beneath can be harder than picking a tri­fecta in the third. 

There is nothing more annoying than having a headpiece that you need to hold on to on a windy day so plan for this in advance. 

Headwear from a milliner will come with a comb, elastic or both to help it stay in place. Hat elastic is a fantastic way to keep a hat or fascinator in place. The elastic should go to the back of the head, behind the ears and in or under the hairline. 

With hats also comes the dreaded hat hair. Your hair is bound to look a little, or a lot, worse for wear once you take your hat off. 

Volume boosting spray, just a small spritz, will give your hair that instant uplift after wearing a hat. 

The dress: think well-cut dresses that fall to the knee or just below, or contemporary takes in the classic suit. 

Make sure the silhouette is suited to your shape and is something you can comfort­ably wear all day. Nothing says fashion victim quite like a lady wearing something trendy that isn't quite right for her figure. 

Dresses that are too tight, have no give, are uncomfort­ably short or rub around the armholes or anywhere else should be discarded. Check the forecast and if rain and cold is on the radar you'll need to bring a stylish jacket and an umbrella. 

A great tip is to take some Magic tape with you to keep up the fallen hem on a dress, fix a fascinator clip or elastic band which has become detached or to hold shoulder straps in place. 

Handbags and clutches look good but carry little. To survive at the races you are better off bringing a shoulder bag so you can fit in all the essentials. 

A bigger bag means fold­up ballet flats will fit in as well as travel sized deodorant compact mirror, hand sanitiser, and a small packet of hand and body wet ones. 

Wallet, phone, sunglasses, sunscreen, band-aids, make­up, are non-negotiable while safety pins, and pens don't take-up much room.

The Moonee Vallyey Gold Cup winner, The United States, will move into the 24th place of the Melbourne Cup order of entry after Racing Victoria Stewards announced first place holder Mongolian Khan was officially out of the running.

The New Zealand starter was reportedly showing signs of colic in the stables. Mongolian Khan was the fourth favourite to win the Cup, paying $12.

THE 2015 Melbourne Cup Horses are determined by an ‘Order of Entry’ process as defined by Racing Victoria. 

A final field of 24 horses will take their place on November 3 to contest the race. 

Winners of selected lead up races will gain automatic entry into the Melbourne Cup.

After second declarations, 42 horses remain nominated for the great race. 

On Saturday evening, October 31, the final field will be declared.

Following is a list of horses who are confirmed nominations for the 2015 Melbourne Cup. 

The horses represent the stronger chances this year, having either already won coveted races locally or internationally.

A NOTORIOUSLY hard race to pick a winner in, studying the last decade of Melbourne Cup victors is as good a way as any to pick which horse will stand-up this year.

Whether you choose your ride by the name, weight, jockey, silk colours or barrier, here is some statistical food for thought. 

Records show barriers five and 11 lead the way with seven wins apiece. 

By far, bay horses have had the greatest success at the cup with 66 out of a total of 154 starts.

As far as silks are concerned, everyone has their favourite colour, but there is one shade that reigns supreme at the cup.

Forty horses have been ridden to victory with a jockey decked out in blue. 

In terms of age, youth isn't necessarily better when it comes to cup champions. These days the winning zone is now very much horses aged four, five and six. 

Profiles of the winners 

MAKYBE DIVA, 2005: In the fastest race of the last 10 years, Makybe Diva was the victor for the third year running in a time of 3:19:17. The female bay won carrying 58kgs from barrier 14 with jockey Glen Boss on board. 

DELTA BLUES, 2006: Jock­ey Yasunari Iwata drove Del­ta Blues to beat Pop Rock rid­den by Damien Oliver. The bay stallion won in a time of 3:21:47 from barrier ten. 

EFFICIENT, 2007: Efficient won the cup in a time of 3:23:34 from barrier nine ridden by Michael Rodd. The grey gelding from New Zealand beat Purple Moon ridden by Damien Ol­iver to win. 

VIEWED, 2008: Ridden by Blake Shinn, and trained by Bart Cummings, Viewed won in 3:20:40 from barrier eight. Viewed is an Australian bay stallion. 

SHOCKING, 2009: Shock­ing won with a weight of 51kg from barrier 22 by three quarters of a length. The bay stallion was four-years-old when he won the cup.

AMERICAIN, 2010: Rid­den by Gerald Mosse, Americain won the race with a weight of 54.5kg from barrier 12 at the age of six. The bay or brown stallion was an Amer­ican-bred, French-trained thoroughbred racehorse. 

DUNADEN, 2011: It was a photo finish, but Dunaden got it by a nose with Christo­phe Lemaire on board. The bay stallion carried 54.5 kg from barrier 13 to win the 151st Melbourne Cup. 

GREEN MOON, 2012: Green Moon won with a weight of 53.5kg from barrier five. The bay stallion from Ireland was ridden by Brett Prebble. 

FIORENTE, 2013: Mel­bourne cup winner Fiorente was ridden by Damien Oliver and trained by Gai Water­house. The horse carried 55kg from barrier five. 

PROTECTIONIST, 2014: Carrying a whopping 56.5 kg, Protectionist won with a good time of 3:17.71 from barrier 11. The stallion bay is the first German-trained horse to win the cup.