The Melbourne Cup is the one of the richest and most prestigious races in the world and it always delivers a thrilling spectacle. It is such a big deal in Victoria that a public holiday is declared each year to allow everyone to watch the action unfold. Its popularity has also spread across the globe and the race attracts more than 650 million viewers worldwide, while many leading trainers from far-flung destinations descend upon Flemington Racecourse to vie for glory. We have compiled everything you need to know about this magnificent sporting event.
The Race That Stops a Nation
Every year, on the first Tuesday in November, Australia comes to a virtual standstill to watch 24 of the world’s finest stayers slog it out for the Melbourne Cup. The famous race takes place over 3,200m at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne and it is the jewel in the crown of the Spring Racing Carnival. It is open to three-year-olds and up, but securing a place in the field is ferociously competitive. It is the richest 2-mile race in the world, with prize money of $8 million, and the prestige associated with victory is immense, so only the best of the best make the final cut.
Every year the race receives hundreds of nominations and they are then balloted based on a number of conditions. Prize money earned over the past two years, wins and placings in specific lead-up races and allocated handicap weight are crucial factors in determining who makes the final field. Yet there are also a number of ballot exemption races – the Andrew Ramsden Stakes, the Bart Cummings, Lexus Stakes, Caulfield Cup, the St. Leger in Ireland and the Tenno Sho in Japan – which offer the winner a route into the Melbourne Cup. By the time of the race, only superstars will be in contention and their owners will have had to fork out almost $50,000 for entry. Check out Punters horse racing betting to see the favourites for glory this year.
Melbourne Cup History
Seventeen stayers contested the first Melbourne Cup on November 7, 1861, in a bid to win 710 gold sovereigns and a hand-beaten gold watch. A crowd of 4,000 gathered to watch the race and John Cutts’ bay stallion Archer romped to victory in 3 minutes and 52 seconds, the slowest winning time in the race’s history. The following day he raced again and landed the 2-mile Melbourne Town Plate, and it fuelled an interstate rivalry as he came from Sydney. The following year saw Archer successfully defend his crown, but he was controversially scratched from the field on a technicality in 1863. Crowds started to push 10,000 by that point, and it now attracts north of 100,000 visitors annually, with the highest recorded attendance standing at 122,3765.
The race grew in popularity during the 19th century and it established itself as the most important race in Australia. The iconic Fashions of the Field was launched in 1965, adding to the grandeur of the event, although that year British model Jean Shrimpton caused a stir by wearing a miniskirt. In 1985 prize money rose to $1 million for the first time and it gained its first sponsor. In recent years, foreign raiders have begun to compete and last year Cross Counter became the first British horse to win the Melbourne Cup. It is also a huge event for New Zealand trainers, and Kiwi winners include Phar Lap and Ethereal. The illustrious roll call of Australian winners includes Makybe Diva, Think Big and Prince of Penzance, the $101 roughie that soared to victory in 2015. That race also saw Michelle Payne become the first ever female jockey to win the race that stops a nation.
Melbourne Cup Records
The fastest winning time was secured by Kingston Rule in 1990, when he crossed the line of just 3:16.3. Archer holds the record for the widest winning margin, as he finished eight lengths clear of Mormon in a field of 20 starters in 1862. Rain Lover equalled that record in 1968 when he also won by eight lengths. It also took a long time for anyone to equal Archer’s two Melbourne Cup victories, but Peter Pan finally pulled it off in 1932 and 1934. Rain Lover won a second Melbourne Cup in 1969 and then Think Big landed back-to-back triumphs in 1974 and 1975. Makybe Diva became the first horse to win three Melbourne Cups during an unprecedented period of dominance between 2003 and 2015.
The legendary Bart Cummings looms large over this race and he racked up a magnificent 12 victories during his career. His first came in 1965, when Light Fingers saluted, and Galilee and Red Handed then won it for him in 1966 and 1967 respectively. Think Big handed Cummings two more victories and his tally reached 12 when Viewed won the race in 2008. No other trainer has come close to matching that record. The most successful jockeys in Melbourne Cup history are Bobby Lewis and Harry White, with four wins apiece. The youngest jockey to win the race was Peter St. Albans, who was just 12 when he rode Briseis to victory in 1876.