History of the Melbourne Cup

Held annually on the first Tuesday in November at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, the Cup captures the imagination of millions. 

With a rich history that spans over 160 years, the Melbourne Cup has become not only a sporting spectacle but a cultural event that unites Australians from all walks of life.

The Melbourne Cup is a 3200-meter race held at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne and is the centerpiece of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

The race is run under handicap conditions, meaning horses carry different weights based on their ability and recent form. 

Prior to the race each year, the Victorian handicapper will assess in excess of 100 entrants and allocate them a weight to be carried. 

Horses that are higher up in the weights are favoured to get a start, as they are deemed the best performed horses. 

The race itself is a true test of stamina for thoroughbreds, and only the elite will run at their peak for the entire distance. 

The Cup is contested by horses from both Australia and abroad, and its significance transcends sport, becoming a key part of Australia's cultural fabric. 

Over the years, the Melbourne Cup has grown from a local event into a global spectacle, with hundreds of millions of spectators tuning in from around the world.

The Melbourne Cup was first held in 1861, making it one of the oldest horse races in Australia. The race is believed to be the brainchild of Victorian Turf Club member Frederick Standish who wanted to create an event that would showcase the emerging importance of the Australian horse-racing industry.

Seventeen horses contested the inaugural Melbourne Cup which was run over 2 miles and offered prizemoney of 710 gold sovereigns. 

The winner was a horse named Archer, who was ridden by John Cutts and trained by Etienne de Mestre, and that trio would go on to win the Cup in the following year.

The first Melbourne Cup took place on Thursday, November 7, in front of a crowd of 4000 people, and it wasn’t until 1875 that the race was run on the first Tuesday of November, which is the scheduled raceday that has remained since. 

The crowd doubled the following year with 8000 attendees, and by 1877, patron numbers had grown to more than 80,000. 

Despite its modest beginnings, the race continued to gain popularity, and had become a fixture on Melbourne’s social calendar. 

In 1890, the largest ever Melbourne Cup field was assembled with 39 runners taking place. The race was won by Carbine who set a weight carrying record with 66kg on his back - 24kg more than the second placed Highborn.

The Melbourne Cup is more than just a horse race; it is an event of national significance and has been dubbed “The race that stops a nation”. 

This is due to the majority of Australians stopping to watch the race regardless of whether they were at work, school or home.

In 1873, Melbourne Cup Day was recognised as a public holiday in the state of Victoria. In other states around the country, businesses would close early, schools would be dismissed early, and families would gather for parties and celebrations. 

For many, the Melbourne Cup is a time to come together, don their best clothes, and engage in the tradition of placing bets on the horses.

The race has been ingrained in Australian culture, inspiring a sense of unity and national pride - especially since the race has become an international event with horses travelling from around the world to compete.

It is a moment where people of all backgrounds, from racing enthusiasts to casual viewers, share in the excitement of the event. The fashion on display, especially the glamorous outfits and extravagant hats and fascinators, is also a major part of the Melbourne Cup experience.

The Cup is broadcast live on television and reaches more than 1.9 million Australian homes as well as 700 million viewers worldwide. Melbourne Cup Day tickets are one of the most sought after prizes, and the race regularly attracts a crowd in excess of 100,000 each year. 

Aussies love a punt, and it’s estimated that more than $372 million was wagered on the Cup in 2025 as punters studied the form and searched for expert Melbourne Cup tips.

Throughout its history, the Melbourne Cup has witnessed some champion racehorses making their mark on the race - and some have earned ‘legend’ status along the way.

Here are some of the most famous:

One of the most recognised names in Melbourne Cup history, Makybe Diva became the first horse to win three consecutive Cups, achieving the phenomenal feat in 2003, 2004, and 2005. 

Her effort propelled her to the top of Melbourne Cup ranks, and as racecaller Greg Miles said as she passed the winning post for her third win in the race, “A champion becomes a legend.”

Her dominance in the race helped solidify her place as one of Australia’s greatest racehorses, and the way the Flemington crowd erupted when she hit the lead in the straight was testament to how much she was adored.

Another iconic name in Australian racing history, Phar Lap is perhaps the most famous horse to have ever raced in Australia.

In 1930, Phar Lap won the Melbourne Cup in a remarkable display of stamina and strength. His victory came at a time when the country was in the midst of the Great Depression, and he became a symbol of hope and national pride. 

His emotional connection with Australians made him a legend, and his memory was cemented in Australian folklore with Phar Lap the movie being released in 1983.

This horse, trained by the legendary Bart Cummings, won the Melbourne Cup in 1974 and 1975. Think Big's wins helped cement Cummings’ reputation as one of Australia’s greatest trainers, and his successes were crucial in elevating the Cup’s prestige.

A famous New Zealand-bred horse, Rising Fast won the Melbourne Cup in 1954 and became one of the first horses to win the Cup after completing a full set of major racing victories, including the Caulfield Stakes, Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate.

Another notable winner, Kingston Rule won the 1990 Melbourne Cup in the quickest time in history (3:16.3), a record that still stands today. 

The Melbourne Cup’s history wouldn’t be complete without mentioning legendary racehorse trainer Bart Cummings who was aptly dubbed the ‘Cups King.’ 

James Bartholomew Cummings AM, also known as JB Cummings or Bart, trained 12 Melbourne Cup winners during his illustrious career, making him the most successful trainer in the race’s history.

Etienne de Mestre who won the first Melbourne Cup with Archer is next best with five wins that spanned 18 years. Cummings’ first Cup victory came in 1965 with Light Fingers, and his last was in 2008 with Viewed.

Cummings’ ability to prepare horses for the gruelling 3200-meter race was legendary. His training techniques and knowledge of the race helped him develop a reputation as a master strategist. 

One of Cummings standard measures was getting at least 10,000km of race conditioning into each horse before it contested the Cup. 

Cummings was known for his quiet, methodical approach to training, and his horses were renowned for their stamina and ability to perform under pressure.

His influence on Australian racing cannot be overstated. Cummings’ legacy extends beyond the Melbourne Cup, as he shaped the careers of countless jockey and trainers.

The include his son Anthony Cummings who is a successful racehorse trainer in Sydney, and his grandson James Cummings who worked in partnership with Bart before moving on to become the head trainer at Godolphin in Australia -  a global racing organisation that is regarded as the largest horse racing and breeding team in the world.

Cummings was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1991, and he was an inaugural inductee to the Racing Hall of Fame that was established in 2001.

Cummings died at the age of 87 in 2015, and a bronze statue was later built in his honour and stands at Flemington Racecourse.

In the early years of horse racing, the Melbourne Cup was dominated by male jockeys and trainers. However, over time, women have broken through the barriers of this male-dominated sport.

In 2001, Sheila Laxon became the first female trainer to win the Melbourne Cup. She trained the horse Ethereal, who triumphed in the race, creating history with her victory. 

Laxon’s win marked a significant milestone for women in horse racing, proving that gender was no barrier to success in this competitive field. Laxon, in partnership with husband John Symons, would win the cup again in 2024 with outsider Knight’s Choice. 

In 2015, Michelle Payne made history as the first female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup. She rode the despised 150/1 outsider Prince of Penzance to victory, and her triumph became a defining moment in Australian sport. 

Payne’s win helped pave the way for greater gender equality in horse racing, and her inspirational story prompted the movie ‘Ride Like a Girl’ to be made about her journey to Cup success. 

The Melbourne Cup trophy is an integral part of the race’s history and tradition. The trophy, which is awarded to the winning horse’s connections, has undergone various design changes over the years. 

The original trophy, awarded in 1861, was made of gold and was a simple design, but over time, it evolved into a more elaborate piece of craftsmanship.

Today, the Melbourne Cup trophy is a magnificent creation, containing 1.65kg of 18-carat gold and standing 31.5 centimeters tall.

The current trophy is estimated to be worth more than $200,000 making it a significant prize for the winning owners. 

The shape of the trophy represents the elegance and prestige of the event, while the engraving of the winning horse’s name on the trophy serves as a lasting reminder of the victory.

In 1993 Irish trainer Dermot Weld put the Melbourne Cup on the international stage when his seven-year-old gelding Vintage Crop became the first European-trained horse to claim victory in the Cup.

Trainers from around the world then realised it was possible to make the long trip Down Under and compete for the ever-growing Melbourne Cup prizemoney. 

European trainers started to send highly-credentialled horses to Australia for the Melbourne Cup, but ironically, it wasn’t until 2002 that another European-trained horse won the race - and that horse was Media Puzzle who was also trained by Weld. 

It was Japan’s turn to take top honours next with the Katsuhiko Sumii-trained Delta Blues victorious in 2006 for jockey Yasunari Iwata. 

That was followed by back-to-back French victories with Americain (2010) winning for trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre and jockey Gerald Mosse, and Dunaden (2011) winning for trainer Mikel Delzangles and jockey Christophe Lemaire.

In 2014, German stayer Protectionist claimed the race in emphatic fashion for trainer Andreas Wohler who was ridden by top UK jockey Ryan Moore.

Hall of Fame Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien had been vying for Cup success year after year, but it was his son Joseph O’Brien who claimed victory first with wins in 2017 and 2020 with Rekindling and Twilight Payment. 

With Australia’s focus on breeding speedy youngsters, the staying power of racehorses in Australia had dwindled over the years. International trainers now had the advantage as their racehorses are typically bred for stamina. 

Australian trainers started to shift focus and began purchasing tried and tested stayers from overseas, and it has now become rare for an Australian-bred horse to win the Melbourne Cup. 

Today, the Melbourne Cup stands as a testament to the enduring power of sport to bring people together. It has evolved into a global event, with horses from all over the world competing for a place in the race.

Visiting trainers and jockeys from around the world have declared there is no other racing event in the world like the Melbourne Cup, and the lure of taking a horse to Flemington on Cup Day is what drives a lot of participants in the industry. 

The event has become a significant part of Melbourne’s cultural landscape and a key moment in the Australian sporting calendar. 

Since 2003, the iconic three-handed Cup has covered millions of miles as the annual Melbourne Cup tour makes its way around the country for all to see. 

The fact that a gold Cup could draw so much attention in over 680 destinations as it is greeted by tens of thousands of people is testament to the Melbourne Cup’s popularity.

 

Since 1983, a Melbourne Cup parade has taken place in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD with the Cup and participants being showcased and celebrated prior to the race. COVID interrupted the Cup parade and it has struggled to get off the ground in years since. 

With tours and parades, hundreds of millions of viewers worldwide, and more than 100,000 fans eager to be trackside on Cup Day, it’s obvious the Melbourne Cup is more than just a race; it is a celebration of Australian culture, tradition, and the pursuit of excellence in sport.

The legacy of the race continues to inspire new generations of trainers, jockeys, and fans, and its place in Australian history is firmly cemented.