About Melbourne Cup

TheMelbourne CupisAustralia's most famous annualThoroughbred horse race. It is a 3200-meter race for three-year-olds and over, conducted by theVictoria Racing Clubon theFlemington RacecourseinMelbourne,Victoriaas part of theMelbourne Spring Racing Carnival. It is the richest "two-mile"handicapin the world, and one of the richest turf races. The event starts at 3pm on the first Tuesday in November and is known locally as "the race that stops a nation". The Melbourne Cup has a long tradition, with the first race held in 1861. It was originally over two miles (3.219km) but was shortened to 3,200 metres (1.988mi) in 1972 whenAustralia adopted the metric system. This reduced the distance by 18.688 metres (61.312ft.), andRain Lover's 1968 race record of 3:19.1 was accordingly adjusted to 3:17.9. The present record holder is the 1990 winnerKingston Rulewith a time of 3:16.3.

Melbourne Cup History

Frederick Standish, member of the Victorian Turf Club and steward on the day of the first Cup, was credited with forming the idea to hold a horse race and calling it the "Melbourne Cup".

Seventeen horses contested the first Melbourne Cup on Thursday 7 November 1861, racing for the modest prize of 710gold sovereigns(710) cash and a hand-beaten goldwatch, winner takes all.The prize was not, as some have suggested, the largest purse up to that time. A large crowd of 4,000 men and women watched the race, although it has been suggested this was less than expected because of news reaching Melbourne of the death of explorersBurke and Willsfive days earlier on 2 November. Nevertheless, the attendance was the largest at Flemington on any day for the past two years, with the exception of the recently run Two Thousand Guinea Stakes.

The winner of this first Melbourne Cup race was a 16.3 hand bay stallion by the name of Archer in a time of 3.52.00, ridden by John Cutts, trained by Etienne de Mestre, and leased (and consequently raced in his own name) by de Mestre. As a lessee de Mestre "owned" and was fully responsible for Archer during the lease. Archer was leased from the "Exeter Farm" of Jembaicumbene near Braidwood, New South Wales. His owners were Thomas John "Tom" Roberts (a good school-friend of de Mestre's), Rowland H. Hassall (Roberts' brother-in-law), and Edmund Molyneux Royds and William Edward Royds (Roberts' nephews). 

The inaugural Melbourne Cup of 1861 was an eventful affair when one horse bolted before the start, and three of the seventeen starters fell during the race, two of which died. Archer, a Sydney "outsider" who drew scant favour in the betting, spread-eagled the field and defeated the favourite, and Victorian champion, Mormon by six lengths. Dismissed by the bookies, Archer took a lot of money away from Melbourne, 'refuelling interstate rivalry' and adding to the excitement of the Cup. The next day, Archer was raced in and won another 2 mile long distance race, the Melbourne Town Plate.

It has become legend that Archer walked over 800 km (over 500 miles) to Flemington from de Mestre's stable at "Terara" near Nowra, New South Wales. However, newspaper archives of the day reveal that he had travelled south from Sydney to Melbourne on the steamboat City Of Melbourne, together with de Mestre, and two of de Mestre's other horses Exeter and Inheritor. Before being winched aboard the steamboat for the trip to Melbourne, the horses had arrived in Sydney in September 1861.

Archer travelled to Melbourne by steamboat again the following year (1862) to run in the second Melbourne Cup. This time he won 810 gold sovereigns (810) cash and a gold watch before a crowd of 7,000, nearly twice the size of the previous years large crowdin a time of 3.47.00, taking to two the number of Melbourne Cup wins by this horse. Archer had already won the 1862AJC Queen Elizabeth StakesinRenwick, Sydney, and returned to win his second Melbourne Cup carrying 10 stone 2 pounds. He defeated a field of twenty starters by eight lengths, a record that has never been beaten, and that was not matched for over 100 years. Mormon again running second. Winning the Melbourne Cup twice was a feat not repeated until more than seventy years later whenPeter Panwon the race in 1932 and 1934, and winning the Melbourne Cup two years in a row was a feat not repeated until more than 30 years later whenRain Loverwon in 1968 and 1969.

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MELBOURNE CUP CARNIVAL 2019

Everyone knows just how much people enjoy getting dressed up and having a bet for this special day, with women wearing their most extravagant hats and most colorful dresses. A number of marquees are set up for VIP guests, with fashion parades and other entertainment also taking place throughout the day. Corporate marquee and dining packages are already available for bookings, with shared marquees also available for hire.

A General Admission Season Pass is being offered this year for the 2018/19 racing season, permitting access to general admission areas of all VRC race meetings, including the Melbourne Cup Carnival. This pass is being sold for $200, with a total value of $564. There are a range of other ticketing options available to choose from, including general admission, reserved grandstand seating, corporate dining, restaurant dining, and a variety of members options.

The Melbourne Cup is the second richest prize in Australian sport, contested by horses from all over the world. It is amazing when you think that Australia stops to a standstill to listen to and watch the big event, with a 100,000 plus crowd also expected to witness the race live.

Its not all about the racing however, with a wide range of fashion, dining, and entertainment also on offer. The Flemington Racecourse will come alive again this November with fashion shows, music, and the best selections of food and beverages that money can buy

The Melbourne Cup this year will be run on November 5th 2019 which is the first Tuesday in November. The race will be run at Flemington racecourse and the start time for the race is at 3pm. The final field for the Melbourne Cup 2019 will be decided on Saturday 3rd November after the running of the Lexus Stakes which will decide the last remaining spot in the Melbourne Cup field.

Out of the twenty four runners in the Melbourne Cup Field there is prize money for the first ten horses to cross the finish line in a race with a total prize pool of $8million dollars. View the amounts given to each position on our Prizemoney page or view the information on the iconic trophy.

We have also compiled replays of the last five Melbourne Cups including last years edition in which international runner Protectionist won. View our the Melbourne Cup replays.

The last two Melbourne Cups have been won by international horses which is seen to have increased the number of international runners heading to Australia during the Spring to tackle the race.

THE ODDS

Melbourne Cup betting odds basically goes hand in hand with Melbourne Cup betting although there are some small differences. The term betting refers to the overall market in a race where as the term odds refers to each of the horses individual price when betting. Each horse in the race will have different betting odds, the horse with the lowest odds is believed to be the race favourite. Betting odds are determined by whom the bookmaker feels has the best chance of winning and betting moves from punters. Often horses will open up at a certain price and either get backed into lower odds or drift to higher odds.

MELBOURNE CUP FIELD

Each year hundreds of horses are nominated by their connections for the Melbourne Cup. Leading up to the race there are different levels of acceptances which connections need to pay a fee to continue with their quest to make the Melbourne Cup Field. The field is determined by horses who have won Group races worldwide over the distance of 2400m+ which has caused some debate to the ease of some international runners making the field. There are currently 67 horses still nominated for the race you can view them on our nominations page.

MELBOURNE CUP STATS

There are plenty of different factors in picking a winner in the Melbourne Cup with a likely field size of 24 horses it can often come down to the ride of the jockey on the horse, we take a look at the most successful Melbourne Cup jockeys with Damien Oliver and Glen Boss having ridden the most winners at 3 each.

FLEMINGTON RACECOURSE

The Melbourne Cup is held annually at Flemington racecourse and has so since its inaugural year  in 1864. The Circumference of the racecourse is 2,312 metres. The racecourse and surrounding areas is a total of 1.27km.

MELBOURNE CUP CARNIVAL

The 2019 Melbourne Cup Carnival goes for a full week and is comprised by four race days. The race days are Victoria Derby day, Melbourne Cup day, Crown Oaks day and the last day of the carnival is Lexus Stakes day which is our recommended day for families. The 2019 Carnival starts on the 3rd of November and runs until the 11th of November with the race itself being run on the 5th of November.

MELBOURNE CUP BARRIER DRAW

Thebarrier drawfor the Melbourne Cuptakes place on Victoria Derby day which this year is the 2nd of November. The Lexus Stakes run on Derby day is the last race in which Melbourne Cup hopefuls can get a spot in the final field thus the barrier draw must commence after this time. It is accustom that the VRC announces the final Melbourne Cup Fieldand barriers at5.30pm.

Melbourne Cup International runners

The Melbourne Cup is the most watched horse race in Australian racing, contested by three year old horses and above over a distance of 3200 metres.  The Melbourne Cup is held annually at Flemington Racecourse on the first Tuesday in November, and has become known as the race that stops a nation.  Throughout its long history that stretches back to 1861, a number of international horses have won this prestigious event.

MELBOURNE CUP WINNERS

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