The Melbourne Cup is “the race that stops a nation”. Racingbase.com.au has you covered with all the news, tips and betting odds ahead of this year’s meeting from Flemington Park.
As is tradition, the Melbourne Cup takes place on the opening Tuesday in November, a public holiday in Victoria. This year it falls on Tuesday, November 5. Up to 110,000 spectators will attend the meeting, with millions also set to tune in worldwide to watch the feature race.
In recent years, the Melbourne Cup, the feature race of the Melbourne Spring Festival, has attracted more international runners, with horses travelling from the UK, Ireland, France and Japan to take on the best of Australia in the Group One handicap. The prize money and prestige of the race are why the leading international trainers now target this contest.
Run over a distance of 3,200 metres on a left-handed turf course, stamina is essential in the Melbourne Cup. As with all handicap races, horses are assigned a weight allocation depending on their official rating. The best horses have the most weight on their backs.
18+ T&C’s Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C’s Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C’s Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C’s Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C’s Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C’s Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
2024 Melbourne Cup Day Race Schedule
| Race | Name | Distance | Time | Prizemoney |
| 1 | Darley Maribyrnong Plate | 1000m | 10:45AM | $200,000 |
| 2 | The Macca’s Run | 2800m | 11:20AM | $150,000 |
| 3 | Subzero Handicap | 1400m | 12:00PM | $150,000 |
| 4 | TAB Trophy | 1800m | 12:40PM | $175,000 |
| 5 | The Schweppervescence Plate | 1000m | 1:20PM | $150,000 |
| 6 | Furphy Plate | 1800m | 1:55PM | $175,000 |
| 7 | Lexus Melbourne Cup | 3200m | 3:00PM | $7,750,000 |
| 8 | In Memory of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II | 1400m | 3:50PM | $150,000 |
| 9 | The Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes | 1400m | 4:35PM | $200,000 |
| 10 | MSS Security Sprint | 1200m | 5:15PM | $175,000 |
Melbourne Cup Nominations & Declarations
Race Nominations
Nominations close at 12:00pm on September 3, 2024 – fee $1500
1st Declaration
Melbourne Cup first declarations close at 12:00pm on on October 1, 2024 – fee $2000
2nd Declaration
Melbourne Cup second declarations close at 12:00pm on October 3, 2023 – fee $2000
3rd Declaration
Melbourne Cup third declarations close at 12:00pm on October 28, 2024 – fee $4000
4th Declaration
Melbourne Cup fourth declarations close at 10:00am on October 30, 2023 – fee $4000
Final Declaration
Melbourne Cup final declarations close at 6:30pm on November 2, 2024 – fee $49,500
Melbourne Cup Barrier Draw 2024
The barrier draw for the Melbourne Cup is an important moment as connections of each horse hope for a favourable position from the barriers. With 24 runners, there are 24 numbered barriers. The lowest barriers are on the inside rail, while the higher numbers are on the outside of the turf track.
Most trainers and owners prefer a low number in the Melbourne Cup barrier draw, however, not too low, as it could lead to their horse finding traffic during the race.
2023 Melbourne Cup Results & Replay
| Finish | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Barrier | Weight | SP |
| 1 | WITHOUT A FIGHT (IRE) | Mark Zahra | Anthony & Sam Freedman | 16 | 56.5kg | $8 |
| 2 | SOULCOMBE (GB) | Joao Moreira | Chris Waller | 4 | 53.5kg | $9.50 |
| 3 | SHERAZ (FR) | Beau Mertens | Chris Waller | 22 | 51.5kg | $151 |
| 4 | ASHRUN (FR) | Kerrin McEvoy | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | 11 | 51.5kg | $26 |
| 5 | DAQIANSWEET JUNION (NZ) | Daniel Stackhouse | Phillip Stokes | 12 | 51.5kg | $51 |
| 6 | INTERPRETATION (IRE) | Teo Nugent | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | 17 | 50kg | $41 |
| 7 | ABSURDE (FR) | Zac Purton | Willie Mullins | 8 | 53kg | $9 |
| 8 | TRUE MARVEL (FR) | Ben Thompson | Matthew Smith | 10 | 50kg | $151 |
| 9 | VOW AND DECLARE | Billy Egan | Danny O’Brien | 19 | 53kg | $31 |
| 10 | MILITARY MISSION (IRE) | Ms Rachel King | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 5 | 51kg | $26 |
| 11 | OKITA SOUSHI (IRE) | Dylan Gibbons (a) | Joseph O’Brien | 20 | 51.5kg | $101 |
| 12 | MORE FELONS (IRE) | Ms Jamie Kah | Chris Waller | 23 | 50.5kg | $26 |
| 13 | LASTOTCHKA (FR) | Craig Williams | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | 21 | 51kg | $26 |
| 14 | VAUBAN (FR) | Ryan Moore | Willie Mullins | 3 | 55kg | $5.50F |
| 15 | FUTURE HISTORY (GB) | Hollie Doyle | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | 13 | 50kg | $18 |
| 16 | BREAKUP (JPN) | Kohei Matsuyama | Tatsuya Yoshioka | 18 | 55kg | $18 |
| 17 | GOLD TRIP (FR) | James McDonald | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | 2 | 58.5kg | $6.50 |
| 18 | VIRTUOUS CIRCLE (NZ) | Craig Newitt | Liam Howley | 6 | 51kg | $151 |
| 19 | SERPENTINE (IRE) | Jye McNeil | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 1 | 51kg | $41 |
| 20 | KALAPOUR (IRE) | Zac Lloyd (a) | Kris Lees | 14 | 50kg | $41 |
| 21 | ALENQUER (FR) | Damien Oliver | Michael Moroney | 9 | 56.5kg | $21 |
| 22 | MAGICAL LAGOON (IRE) | Mark Du Plessis | Chris Waller | 7 | 51kg | $101 |
| FF | RIGHT YOU ARE | John Allen | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | 15 | 53kg | $31 |
See more Melbourne Cup results and replays here.