The Melbourne Cup has been run at Flemington since 1861. The race used to be held on a Thursday, but since 1875 has been run on the first Tuesday of the month. It’s an enduring event, and is the richest race of its distance (3200m) in the world.
There are three charts worth looking at – the chart for the inaugural race,the chart for the announcement of the separation of VIC from NSW, and a chart for Australia.
The first race chart has Aries rising, and a crescent Moon – great for new beginnings, and for ensuring ongoing growth.
The Sun is in the 8th House (in Scorpio) perhaps highlighting the rich prize money on offer. 
The MC is aligned with the North Node, suggesting some kind of fate or destiny playing a part, and indicating the concept of divine timing at play.
In quick succession, the Moon applies to trine Saturn, square Mars and trine Jupiter. This is busy, showing a one-two-three punch. Capricorn is known as a ‘bestial’ sign, and is linked to four-legged animals. Assuming the time is correct, the Moon is high in the 10th.
Venus, ruler of the descendant, is at the end of Sagittarius in the whole sign 9th, perhaps symbolising the international connections of the partners involved in the race. Sagittarius is another bestial sign, and Venus is in the half of Sagittarius known as ‘feral’. Animal focus indeed! Venus is also close to her maximum distance from the Sun, and thus easily visible in the early evening sky.
If you consider the chart of the announcement of VIC separating from NSW (the race started before Australia was officially a country, so it’s worth a look at this data!), which is said to have occurred at 10.30am on November 15, 1850, the Sun, Mercury and Mars on that day are close to the Sun/Mercury placements in the first race chart.
In addition, Venus is at the same place – 28 – 29 Sagittarius. The Moon is waxing, and on the 15th, in Pisces. The news of this announcement arrived in Australia by ship on November 11, 1850.
The connections between the first Melbourne Cup chart and the announcement of VIC separating from NSW include:
– race Venus conjunct separation Venus – the race reflects desires, values or qualities important to Victoria
– race Mercury (which is retrograde – a point to consider for those that worry about starting new things whilst Mercury is Rx!) conjunct separation Mars – there’s some kind of message about independence VIC is able to convey through organising and hosting this race
– race Sun on separation Mercury – again the idea of identity and messages or information being illuminated
– race Mars is separating from an opposition to separation Jupiter – the race chart brings action and progress (Mars) to the ideas, values and vision (Jupiter) symbolised in separation chart
Australia’s National Chart, from 1901, includes a stellium of planets in Sagittarius. Using the whole sign system, they fall in the 9th House.
While there’s much more to Australia than a horse race, with Jupiter and Mercury in late Sagittarius, and close to Venus in both the first Melbourne Cup chart, and the separation chart, it’s clear our love of this four-legged creature shows no signs of abating.
The love of the horse has morphed from perhaps a state specific theme, into one captured in the country’s chart and thus spread around the nation.
When reflecting on the strong Sagittarius themes in the 1901 chart, you might also consider the link to outback horsemen, and the role they played in the development of Australia, themes of which are captured in Banjo Paterson’s famous ballad ‘The Man From Snowy River’. Horses are in the Aussie essence. This particular horse race – having stopped the nation for more than 150 years already – will likely continue to stop the nation for many more to come.
You can read more about the Melbourne Cup here
Info about the history, including references to dates and times, is available here
Info about VIC separating from NSW is here