Every Australian racing enthusiast dreams of owning, training or riding a Melbourne Cup winner, but most of us are happy just to back it!
Australians grow up with the Melbourne Cup. It's not just a horse race, it's a tradition. Melbournians enjoy a public holiday, and more than 100,000 of them head to the track to see the race live. No matter where they are, almost every Aussie is tempted to have a little 'flutter' on the Cup.
Held on the first Tuesday in November, this 3200m race attracts the wealthiest racehorse owners from Australia and all over the world. However, in typical 'fair go' Aussie fashion, the winner of this famous handicap could be owned by a sheik or a king, or a battler from the bush.
Aside from a share of the prizemoney, which in 2009 will be AU$5.5million, and a coveted gold three-handled loving cup trophy, the winner will take their place among the racing legends of Australia.
Australians grow up with the Melbourne Cup. It's not just a horse race, it's a tradition. Melbournians enjoy a public holiday, and more than 100,000 of them head to the track to see the race live. No matter where they are, almost every Aussie is tempted to have a little 'flutter' on the Cup.
Held on the first Tuesday in November, this 3200m race attracts the wealthiest racehorse owners from Australia and all over the world. However, in typical 'fair go' Aussie fashion, the winner of this famous handicap could be owned by a sheik or a king, or a battler from the bush.
Aside from a share of the prizemoney, which in 2009 will be AU$5.5million, and a coveted gold three-handled loving cup trophy, the winner will take their place among the racing legends of Australia.
Melbourne Cup Facts & Figures - 1861 - 2008:
First Run:1861 - winner Archer.
First run on Tuesday: 1875.
Barriers: Since introduced in 1924, 7 winners have started from barrier 11 making it the most popular. Starters from gate 18 are yet to win. 16 winners have drawn outside barrier 19.
First Run:1861 - winner Archer.
First run on Tuesday: 1875.
Barriers: Since introduced in 1924, 7 winners have started from barrier 11 making it the most popular. Starters from gate 18 are yet to win. 16 winners have drawn outside barrier 19.
Maximum runners: 24, with no emergencies.
Dead Heats: No dead-heats for 1st, two for 3rd in 1933 & 1999. 2008 photo finish one of the closest.
Favourites: 33 have won the Cup (22%)
Odds: Phar Lap (1930) the shortest priced winner at 8/11. Three winners at 100/1 - The Pearl (1871) Wotan (1936) & Old Rowley (1940) Most frequent winning price -$8 or 7/1.
Times: Fastest Melbourne Cup winner Kingston Rule (1990) in 3:16.3. World record for fastest 3200m held by Japanese horse Deep Impact 3:13.4
Trainers: Bart Cummings has trained 12 Cup Winners from 80 starters in 50 years. More than 25% of Cummings runners win or place. 3 other trainers have won more than once - Lee Freedman (5) George Hanlon (3) Dermot Weld (2).
Multiple winners: Makybe Diva is the only horse to win three times (2003-04- 05), Archer (1861-62) Peter Pan (1932- 1934) Rain Lover (1968-69) & Think Big (1974-75) each won twice.
Weights: Heaviest weight Carbine (1890, 65.6kgs) Lightest weight Banker (1863, 33.5kgs) Average winning weight is 52.5kgs. Heaviest weight carried by a mare & last top weight to win was Makybe Diva (2005, 58kgs). One runner carried less than 50kgs in past 25 years Brew (2000, 49kgs)
Lead-Up Races: Caulfield Cup in mid October (2400m) is the most important lead-up race. From 1991, 10 Cup winners have raced in the Caulfield Cup. Recently Lets Elope (1991) Doriemus (1995) Might & Power (1997) & Ethereal (2001) won the Caulfield- Melbourne Cup double in the same year. 58 winners or placegetters from the Caulfield Cup & Mackinnon Stakes have gone on to win the Melbourne Cup. Geelong Cup has produced a winner in Media Puzzle (2002) & placegetter On a Juene (2005)
International Winners: Three winners have been trained in the northern hemisphere - Vintage Crop (IRE) (1993) Media Puzzle (GB) (2002) & Delta Blues (JPN) (2006).
International Runners 2001-08: Give the Slip (GB) 2nd 2001, Beekeeper (GB) 3rd 2002, Jardines Lookout (IRE) 3rd 2003, Vinnie Roe (IRE) 2nd 2004, Pop Rock (JPN) 2nd 2006, Purple Moon (IRE) 2nd & Mahler (GB) 3rd 2007, Bauer (IRE) 2nd 2008.
Dead Heats: No dead-heats for 1st, two for 3rd in 1933 & 1999. 2008 photo finish one of the closest.
Favourites: 33 have won the Cup (22%)
Odds: Phar Lap (1930) the shortest priced winner at 8/11. Three winners at 100/1 - The Pearl (1871) Wotan (1936) & Old Rowley (1940) Most frequent winning price -$8 or 7/1.
Times: Fastest Melbourne Cup winner Kingston Rule (1990) in 3:16.3. World record for fastest 3200m held by Japanese horse Deep Impact 3:13.4
Trainers: Bart Cummings has trained 12 Cup Winners from 80 starters in 50 years. More than 25% of Cummings runners win or place. 3 other trainers have won more than once - Lee Freedman (5) George Hanlon (3) Dermot Weld (2).
Multiple winners: Makybe Diva is the only horse to win three times (2003-04- 05), Archer (1861-62) Peter Pan (1932- 1934) Rain Lover (1968-69) & Think Big (1974-75) each won twice.
Weights: Heaviest weight Carbine (1890, 65.6kgs) Lightest weight Banker (1863, 33.5kgs) Average winning weight is 52.5kgs. Heaviest weight carried by a mare & last top weight to win was Makybe Diva (2005, 58kgs). One runner carried less than 50kgs in past 25 years Brew (2000, 49kgs)
Lead-Up Races: Caulfield Cup in mid October (2400m) is the most important lead-up race. From 1991, 10 Cup winners have raced in the Caulfield Cup. Recently Lets Elope (1991) Doriemus (1995) Might & Power (1997) & Ethereal (2001) won the Caulfield- Melbourne Cup double in the same year. 58 winners or placegetters from the Caulfield Cup & Mackinnon Stakes have gone on to win the Melbourne Cup. Geelong Cup has produced a winner in Media Puzzle (2002) & placegetter On a Juene (2005)
International Winners: Three winners have been trained in the northern hemisphere - Vintage Crop (IRE) (1993) Media Puzzle (GB) (2002) & Delta Blues (JPN) (2006).
International Runners 2001-08: Give the Slip (GB) 2nd 2001, Beekeeper (GB) 3rd 2002, Jardines Lookout (IRE) 3rd 2003, Vinnie Roe (IRE) 2nd 2004, Pop Rock (JPN) 2nd 2006, Purple Moon (IRE) 2nd & Mahler (GB) 3rd 2007, Bauer (IRE) 2nd 2008.
See our Cup Q & A
