Sports » Horse Racing » Melbourne Cup
Next Running: 4th November 2008
The Melbourne Cup is Australia's biggest thoroughbred horse race of the year, its often dubbed 'The race that stops the nation' which it quite literally does. It is held annually on the first Tuesday in November at the Flemington Race Course in Melbourne and is regarded by many as the most prestigious two mile handicap in the world.
The Race is held over 3,200 metres and is for thoroughbreds aged 3 and over, and in recent years there has been 24 starters at the gates. The race usually attracts over 100,000 spectators and in 2003 as many as 122,000 entered the gates to watch the Melbourne Cup.
The current total prize money for the winner is at $5,000,000. The most successful horse in Melbourne Cup history is Makybe Diva who won 3 straight Cups between 2003-05, a feat that may not ever be achieved again.
The Melbourne Cup is so big and is called 'The race that stops the nation' because it literally does stop the nation, racing fans or not stop to watch. Schools, workplaces, even parliament house stop to watch the race which lasts a bit over 3 minutes.
In metropolitan Melbourne it is a public holiday. Workplaces commonly have a Melbourne Cup Sweep among the office or workplace to add interest.
You'll often see horses making the trip over from Europe - Irish and English horses have had some success recently, notably Media Puzzle's win in 2003, and Vinnie Row being placed recently too.
Most notably, Japanese raiders took the first two places in the Melbourne Cup in 2006, so look out for foreign horses that might be underestimated in the odds.
If you're new to betting on racing, check out our Racing Bets Guide.
| Race Information | |
| Track | Flemington |
| Distance | 3,200m |
| Age Limt | 3 YO+ |
| Sex | Open |
| Prize Purse | $5,000,000 |
| Race Type | Handicap |
Click here for the best racing odds from Centrebet
Melbourne Cup Winner - Latest Odds
 |
|
| Efficient | 11.00 |
| Septimus | 14.00 |
| Tuesday Joy | 17.00 |
| Kibbutz | 17.00 |
| Cest La Guerre | 21.00 |
| Littorio | 21.00 |
| Alexander Of Hales | 21.00 |
| Weekend Hussler | 22.00 |
| Yellowstone | 23.00 |
| Nom Du Jeu | 26.00 |
| Largo Lad | 26.00 |
| Princess Coup | 26.00 |
| Pop Rock | 26.00 |
| Maldivian | 26.00 |
| Master Oreilly | 26.00 |
| Patkai | 26.00 |
| Admire Jupiter | 26.00 |
| Boundless | 26.00 |
| No Wine No Song | 31.00 |
| Heavenly Glow | 31.00 |
| Viewed | 31.00 |
| Vermilion | 31.00 |
| Purple Moon | 31.00 |
| Yeats | 31.00 |
| Pasta Post | 31.00 |
| Triple Honour | 35.00 |
| Dealer Principal | 35.00 |
| Moatize | 35.00 |
| Moment In Time | 35.00 |
| Delta Blues | 35.00 |
| Meisho Samson | 35.00 |
| Playwright | 35.00 |
| Light Fantastic | 35.00 |
| Roc De Cambels | 35.00 |
| Gorky Park | 35.00 |
| Xcellent | 41.00 |
| Riva San | 41.00 |
| Najib | 41.00 |
| Marjorie | 41.00 |
| Mahler | 41.00 |
| Gabbidon | 41.00 |
| Sirmione | 41.00 |
| Maybe Better | 41.00 |
| Eskimo Queen | 41.00 |
| Admire Moon | 41.00 |
| Tosho Knight | 41.00 |
| Light Vision | 41.00 |
| Arapaho Miss | 41.00 |
| New Spice | 41.00 |
| Pentathon | 51.00 |
Previous Winners of the Melbourne Cup
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer |
| 2006 | Delta Blues | Yasunari Iwata | Katsuhiko Sumii |
| 2005 | Makybe Diva | Glen Boss | Lee Freedman |
| 2004 | Makybe Diva | Glen Boss | Lee Freedman |
| 2003 | Makybe Diva | Glen Boss | David Hall |
| 2002 | Media Puzzle | Damien Oliver | Dermot Weld |
| 2001 | Ethereal | Scott Seamer | Sheila Laxon |
| 2000 | Brew | Kerrin McEvoy | Mike Moroney |
| 1999 | Rogan Josh | John Marshall | Bart Cummings |
| 1998 | Jezabeel | Chris Munch | Brian Jenkins |
| 1997 | Might and Power | Jim Cassidy | Jack Denham |
| 1996 | Saintly | Darren Beadman | Bart Cummings |
| 1995 | Doriemus | Damien Oliver | Lee Freedman |
| 1994 | Jeune | Wayne Harris | David Hayes |
| 1993 | Vintage Crop | Michael Kinane | Dermot Weld |
| 1992 | Subzero | Greg Hall | Lee Freedman |
| 1991 | Let's Elope | Steven King | Bart Cummings |
| 1990 | Kingston Rule | Darren Beadman | Bart Cummings |
