More cops at Cup amid terror alert

There will be a stronger police presence at the Melbourne Cup Carnival this year in response to the raised terror alert level.

About 330,000 people are expected to flock to Flemington Racecourse during the carnival, which begins with Derby Day on Saturday.

Victoria Police assistant commissioner Shane Patton says there will be significantly more police and private security at the course this year, due to the heightened national terrorism alert level.

"You will see an increased focus on bag checking, it will be very thorough, so people need to be mindful there may be a slight delay in getting in," he told reporters at Flemington Racecourse.

"But that's a small price to pay for security."

Mr Patton warned that drunk and rowdy punters could be arrested and fined up to $1500.

"For the small minority of punters who come along and choose to act in an unruly and offensive or an anti-social manner, they will be either kicked out or locked up."

"To wake up the next day and look in your pocket and think 'I've missed the race because I've been locked up for (being) drunk and ... I've got a ticket for nearly $1500', that's a real big day on the grog."

He says it's not a BYO occasion, warning there's a $295 fine for attempting to smuggle alcohol into the course.