Here's some quick facts about The Race That Stops The Nation, to get your knowledge up to scratch on Melbourne Cup day. Read on for the luckiest numbers, the fastest horse, the biggest crowd, the biggest prizes, Phar Lap's massive oversized heart, and more.

If you're in the mood for more numbers behind the Cup, get the inside scoop on which horses history says will win in our Melbourne Cup: By the Numbers special.

To watch the great race live, and all the other Spring Carnival races, go to http://www.racingnetwork.com.au/. And while you're there, make the smartest bet on the Cup with help from our odds comparator.