Melbourne Cup 2024 Race Guide

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.

CONTENTS: News | Race Day Schedule | Melbourne Cup Carnival Timeline | Nominations | Order of Entry | Weights | Final Field | Barrier Draw | Live Stream | History | Flemington Weather | Tips & Trends | Horses | Jockeys | Results & Replay | Past Winners | Top 5 Winners | Odds | Bonus Bets | Bet Types | Tickets | Fashion | FAQs

2024 Melbourne Cup Race Info

2024 Melbourne Cup Day Race Schedule

Melbourne Cup Carnival Timeline 2024

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 Order of Entry 2024

The 2024 Melbourne Cup order of entry is released in September following the race nominations. This will give us a clearer picture of the final field of 24 runners.

The weights are the best guide to the most likely runners in this year’s Melbourne Cup, but the order of entry is defined as below:

1) Whether the horse previously delivered a race performance which qualifies it for the Melbourne Cup (passing the ballot clause); and

2) The weight it has been allotted in relation to the weight it would be given in a weight-for-age race.

Melbourne Cup ballot exempt races

There are eight races around the world that give the winner automatic entry to the 2024 Melbourne Cup. These are:

• The Roy Higgins – March 30
• The Andrew Ramsden – May 18
• The Belmont Stakes  – June 7 (international race)
• Ebor Handicap – August 24 (international race)
• The Bart Cummings – October 5
• Caulfield Cup – October 19
• Cox Plate – October 26
• Lexus Stakes – November 2

MELBOURNE CUP WEIGHTS 2024

The Melbourne Cup 2024 weights will be revealed on September 17. The minimum handicap weight for a 3YO is 49.0kg, while for 4YO and upwards, it is 50.0kg.

Melbourne Cup Final Field 2024

The 2024 Melbourne Cup final field is released on Saturday, November 2 following the Victoria Derby Day, three days before the Melbourne Cup. It is usually around 6:00pm that the confirmed Melbourne Cup is announced.
The Lexus Stakes on Victory Derby Day is the last chance for horses to automatically qualify for the Melbourne Cup. Once this race is completed, the final field is known and cannot change.

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.

Melbourne Cup Live Stream

The Melbourne Cup was watched by 1.110 million on free-to-air Australian television in 2023, but many more also streamed the race for free on Dabble. You can still watch the 2024 Melbourne Cup live stream free of charge thanks to Dabble.

Australia’s leading bookmaker Dabble live streams just about every harness, greyhound and thoroughbred race in Australia – including the Melbourne Cup.

As well as watching every race in all three racing codes, you can find the form for each race and bet on them too at Dabble via their impressive mobile app. It is the one-stop shop for everything horse racing-related.

MELBOURNE CUP HISTORY

The first running of the Melbourne Cup took place in 1861 following an idea from Victoria Racing Club steward Frederick Standish. It was won by Archer. There were 17 runners in the race and 4000 spectators saw him prevail with a time of 3:52:00. The Etienne L. de Mestre-trained horse defended his crown a year later becoming the first repeat winner of the race.

The Melbourne Cup has been run every year since 1861. In the opening year, the winner received a gold watch as the first-place prize. It has now become the richest two-mile handicap in the world, with prizemoney over $8 million.

In 1890, the most runners in history took part in the Melbourne Cup. A total of 39 runners took part in the race won by Carbrine. It was a significant increase from the seven that ran in 1863. That record is unlikely to be broken again as there is a maximum field of 24 today due to safety measures.

Only five horses in history have won the Melbourne Cup more than once. Peter Pan matched Archer’s achieved with success in 1932 and 1934, Rain Lover prevailed in back-to-back years in 1968 and 1969, while Think Big won in 1974 and 1975. History was made in 2005 as Makybe Diva completed a hat-trick of wins in “the race that stops a nation”. It was the third straight year that the Australian mare had come out on top. When she ended her career, she did so as the highest stakes-earn in Australian horse racing history, accumulating just over $14 million.

The record-winning time in the Melbourne Cup was broken in 1990 by Kingston Rule. He prevailed with a time of 3:16:30. He was sired by American Triple Crown winner Secretariat, who is regarded by many to be the best racehorse in history. Kingston Rule’s record time still stands today.

History was made in 2015 when Michelle Payne became the first female winning jockey to win the Melbourne Cup. In what was the 155th running of the race, she rode Prince of Penzance to victory. The horse scored at odds of $101. He was the fourth runner in history to win at odds of $101.

Melbourne Cup changes in recent years

• Racing Victoria (RV) were forced to make some changes to the race in 2021, particularly for overseas runners, as they looked to reduce the number of injuries. Here is a look at some of those changes.
• A maximum of 24 overseas entries are allowed each year.
• International runners must undergo testing before they travel to Australia. These tests ensure the horse is healthy enough to travel and that they are not carrying any injuries.
• All horses involved in the Melbourne Cup must have a CT scan on their distal limbs (lower leg) before the race. There are also further veterinary inspections on the day of the race. These are used to ensure each horse is fit to run in the 3,400-metre contest.
• Any horses that have suffered a fracture or undergone orthopedic surgery are not allowed to enter.
• International horses can only compete in one other race in Australia before the Melbourne Cup. This is so they do not clock up too many air miles in one calendar year.

Since the above changes were made in 2021, the safety record in the race has improved significantly.

The Melbourne Cup Trophy

Every year a new Melbourne Trophy is crafted using 18-carat gold. This is so every winning owner has a unique piece of Melbourne Cup history.

The Melbourne Cup is nicknamed the ‘Loving Cup’. It is estimated that it is valued at $150,000. Smaller trophies are given to the winning jockey and trainer. These are valued at around $10,000. There is also a trophy given to the strapper, with their trophy valued at $5,000.

Melbourne Cup Weather 2024

The weather ahead of and during the 2024 Melbourne is not just important for racegoers, as they determine what to wear, but it also has a big impact on ground conditions at Flemington Racecourse. Some horses prefer faster ground, so their connections will be hoping the sun shines, while other horses excel on slower ground, with their owners and trainers praying for rain in the build-up.

You can check out the weather forecasts in the build-up to the big day at WillyWeather.

Melbourne Cup Tips

Our experts will study the form, stats, barrier draw and ground conditions ahead of the 2024 Melbourne Cup to come with Melbourne Cup tips to help you back the winner of the race.

Here are some key points to consider ahead of the race:

• Only 34 of the last 150 favourites (23%) have won the Melbourne Cup.
• Horses drawn wide have a tough barrier to overcome. They either race wide around the bend or need to be navigated to a good position from the barriers.
• Six-year-olds have the best record in the Melbourne Cup of all the ages involved.
• No horse older than eight has won the Melbourne. Only three eight-year-olds in history have prevailed.
• International horses that have run once in Melbourne before the race perform better than those that haven’t.
• Top weight is difficult to overcome in the Melbourne Cup. Only three-time winner Makybe Diva has won with more than 58kg on its back in the last 35 renewals of the race.

Melbourne Cup Horses 2024

The entries for the 2024 Melbourne Cup will be announced on September 3 and we will provide a guide to each horse’s chance of success in the feature race of the Melbourne Spring Festival.

Melbourne Cup Jockeys 2024

The Melbourne Cup not only attracts some of the world’s leading 2m handicap horses, but it also includes some of the best riders. That is likely to be the case in 2024.

In 2023, Ryan Moore, considered by many to be the world’s best jockey, took part on board Vauban. The race also included leading Australian jockey Kerrin McEvoy who has won the race three times (2000, 2016 and 2018).

2023 Melbourne Cup Results & Replay

See more Melbourne Cup results and replays here.

Melbourne Cup Winners (since 2000)

TOP 5 WINNERS OF THE Melbourne Cup

Check out our Top 5 Melbourne Cup Winners and see which champion gallopers made the cut.

Melbourne Cup Odds 2024

Leading bookmakers Ladbrokes, Neds, bet365 & Palmerbet have their 2024 Melbourne Cup betting odds available.

The Melbourne Cup odds 2024 will change once the entries are in and as we progress towards the final declarations.

Melbourne Cup Bonus Bets

Australia’s leading bookmakers offer a range of horse racing promotions and bonus bets throughout the week.

You are likely to come across promotions such as Double Your Winnings, Cash Back offers and Bonus Bet Back for finishing 2nd, 3rd and even 4th. Do shop around for the best bonuses and promotions.

Racingbase lists all the leading daily bookmaker promos and bonus bets with their T&Cs to make it easier for you.

Click below to see Melbourne Cup promos

MELBOURNE CUP BET TYPES

There are lots of ways you can place a bet on the Melbourne Cup, not just by backing a horse to win. Here is a look at some of the bet types you can place.

SINGLE (Win and Each-Way): The most common bet. The single bet involves betting on your selection to win, place, or both (each-way). If betting each-way, the stake is doubled as you are betting on your selection to win and to place.

QUINELLA: A Quinella bet is available when there are at least three or more runners. To win a Quinella, you must successfully predict the 1st and 2nd placed horses in any order.

EXACTA: An exacta is the same as a quinella. However, you must successfully predict the 1st and 2nd placed horses in the correct order.

TRIFECTA: A Trifecta bet is available when there are at least four or more runners. To win a Trifecta, you must successfully predict the 1st, 2nd and 3rd placed horses in the race.

FIRST4: A First4 bet is available when there are at least four or more runners. To win a First4, you must successfully predict the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th placed horses in the race.

ALL-IN BETTING: All-In betting involves a bookmaker offering fixed odds on selected feature races, like the Melbourne Cup before the declaration of the final field. The risk with All-In Betting is that you will not receive your stake back if your horse is scratched before the final field is announced.

Melbourne Cup Tickets

General Admission: The most affordable option to attend the Melbourne Cup is by purchasing General Admission tickets. Racegoers will have access to all general public areas.

Lawn Grandstand Reserved Seat: Conveniently located opposite the winning post, the Lawn Grandstand offers great views of the racecourse and Melbourne’s city skyline. The stand is uncovered so do bear in mind the weather forecast on the day.

The Precinct: Located adjacent to Flemington train station, The Precinct is a private outdoor ticketed area that does not overlook the racecourse but is a social hub with superscreen viewing.

The Precinct + Lawn Stand Reserved Seat: A combination of the Lawn Grandstand and The Precinct offers a wide range of viewing and social options.

Saintly Place Reserved Seat: For those who don’t wish to chance it with the weather, Saintly Place is an indoor, air-conditioned viewing area set behind glass. It is located under the Lawn Stand.

Hospitality Packages: The Victoria Racing Club (VRC) offer a wide variety of hospitality packages that can be viewed in their Melbourne Cup Carnival Corporate Hospitality ebrochure.

WHAT TIME IS THE MELBOURNE CUP?

The Melbourne Cup takes place at 3:00pm on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. The opening race on Melbourne Cup Day comes at 10:45am, while the final race is scheduled for 5:15pm.

Melbourne Cup Fashion 2024

To many racegoers, fashion at the Melbourne Cup is just as important as the racing on the track. Prizes are awarded most the best-dressed male and female racegoers.

Homemade dresses have often won the best-dressed female competition, so you don’t always need to spend a fortune to win a prize on the day.

FLEMINGTON RACECOURSE

Flemington first opened in 1840 and was originally known as Melbourne Racecourse. The original approach road to the racecourse passed through a property owned by James Watson.

He named his property Flemington after his wife’s hometown of Flemington in Morayshire, Scotland and it is believed that this is how the racecourse’s name was first introduced.

Since then, the track has become the centre-point of Australian thoroughbred horse racing. It was added to the Australian National Heritage list in November 2006 and the site is also listed on the Victorian Heritage Register.

The land in which Flemington racecourse now stands was owned by Robert Fleming who intended to use the area for farming cattle and sheep, along with running a butchery in the early 1800’s.

In 1864, the Victoria Racing Club was introduced to Flemington and up until 2001 acted as the principal authority responsible for managing the racing at the track and across Victoria, Australia.

Flemington hosts a total of 14 Group 1s throughout the Australian racing year, headed by the Melbourne Cup and Victoria Derby in the Spring Carnival in October and November.

The Melbourne Cup has been the centrepiece throughout the history of Flemington Racecourse. The two-mile handicap contest is the richest in the Australian racing calendar and routinely draws hundred of thousands of racegoers to the course each November.

Since its first running in 1861, the Melbourne Cup has produced a vast variety of longing memories at Flemington, both on and off of the track. The blend of over 100,000 attendees and world class thoroughbred racing adds further gloss to Flemington’s already rich history.

In 1875, the Melbourne Cup was awarded public holiday status due to the demand for Australian citizens to witness the unparalleled experience that the raceday provides.

Flemington Track Description

Flemington racecourse boasts a large pear shaped course with a circumference of 2,400 metres. It also has a straight six-furlong home-straight known as ‘The Straight Six’ which hosts many of Australia’s most valuable sprint contests including the Darley Classic.

Racing at Flemington is run in an anticlockwise direction making it a left-handed track with a long, sweeping final turn before the straight.

The track itself underwent a number of improvements during the early 21st century, including a new $45 million grandstand which opened in 2000.

Free Flemington Betting Tips

Follow the link to find our free Flemington racing tips and best bets for each and every meeting. Our Flemington tipster previews each meeting and highlights a Best Bet, Next Best & Best Value across the card.

Melbourne Cup FAQs

Who won the Melbourne Cup 2023?

The 2023 Melbourne Cup was won by Without A Fight. It was the 163rd renewal of “the race and the winning time was 3:18:37. Mark Zahra rode the seven-year-old gelding to success for trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman, while Sheikh Mohammed Obaid al Maktoum was the winning owner who collected the Melbourne Cup trophy.

Is the Melbourne Cup a Public Holiday?

The Melbourne Cup takes place on the first Tuesday in November which is a Public Holiday in Victoria, Melbourne. The race is a big part of the tradition of the public holiday.

Why is the Melbourne Cup so popular?

Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington quickly became the place to be for the rich and famous and fashion elite, and with just 4000 people attending the first Cup in 1861, the crowd size had grown to 100,000 in 1880 – and the population in Victoria was just 290,000. Even famous American writer Mark Twain attended the Cup back in 1895, and was quoted saying:

“The champagne flows, everybody is vivacious, excited, happy.”

“Nowhere in the world have I encountered a festival of people that has such a magnificent appeal to the whole nation. The Cup astonishes me.”

The legend of the Cup has continued to grow with almost the entire nation coming to a standstill on the first Tuesday of November to watch the great race.

What is the Melbourne Cup prize money?

There is $8 million in prizemoney on offer in the 2024 Melbourne Cup. $4.4 million is given to the winner, $1.1 million to the runner-up and $550,000 to the third-placed horse. Prize money is given down to the 12th-placed horse.

What is the Melbourne Cup dress code?

There is no official dress code for general admission to Flemington Racecourse on Melbourne Cup Day, however, most racegoers do enjoy dressing up. If you are fortunate enough to be in the VRC Members area, men are required to wear tailored pants, a sports coat or blazer, with a tie and dress shoes. Ladies are prohibited from wearing short jumpsuits and anything that shows off the midriff and shorts.

Why do women wear hats, headwear and fascinators for the Melbourne Cup?

A long standing tradition at the Melbourne Cup has been for women to show their individuality by wearing unique headpieces. As well as providing some relief from sun, headpieces complete the look along with designer dresses, shoes and accessories.

What is the biggest weight carried to victory in a Melbourne Cup?

The biggest weight carried to victory in the Melbourne Cup was 66kg when Carbine prevailed in 1890. In 1931, Phar Lap was given the biggest weight allocation in the race’s history, as he was assigned 68kg, but he could only finish eighth in the race won by White Nose.