Racegoers Enjoy Melbourne Cup Horse Race

For some Melbourne Cup goers in Australia, the racecourse car park was close enough to the action.

Many punters never made it into the grounds and that was how they planned it.

Two gentlemen sat down to lunch behind their parked car, just as they have done each year for decades.

"We've done this every year for 35 years."

But inside the grounds fashion was the order of the day.

The wide range of outfits included red polka-dotted dresses and a lime-green suit.

Then there were the professional fashionistas vying for victory in the Fashions on the Field competition.

Plush marquees were erected to house the elite and as showcases for sponsors.

Celebrities abounded and at least one royal, Princess Zara Phillips, was in attendance.

[Phillips, Queen of England's Granddaughter]:
"Yeah, it's good I've got lots of friends over here so it's nice to catch up with everyone."

And royalty of another kind, Olivia Newton-John, showed off her husband John Easterling.

[Olivia Newton-John, Actor]:
"Accessory? He's not an accessory. He's my other half."

On the track, Australian horse Shocking roared past Ireland's Crime Scene in the closing stages to win the $5 million race.