The Melbourne Cup is without a doubt Australia’s most famous horse race and has long been regarded as the ‘race which stops a nation’.

  • Race Type: Group 1
  • Distance: 3200 metres
  • Conditions: Handicap
  • Track: Flemington Racecourse.
  • Prizemoney: $8,000,000
  • Date: Tuesday 7 November 2023
  • Race Time: 3pm (AEST)

The race is certainly the highlight of the Spring Racing Carnival and includes a field of both Australian and International Horses all looking for a place in racing history.

Melbourne Cup Day 2023

Melbourne Cup Horses

View a full runner by runner breakdown for each horse in the Cup to help you sort the genuine chances..

Melbourne Cup Tips

View expert tips for this years Cup to help point you in the right direction with the top 4 selections from our tipster panel.

Melbourne Cup Odds 2023

Looking to place a bet on the Melbourne Cup? Avoid the queues and place your Melbourne Cup bets quickly and easily online this year.

Melbourne Cup Betting

See all the latest betting specials and promotion offer from some of the biggest bookmakers in Australia.

What Time is the Melbourne Cup Race 2023

This years Melbourne Cup Day will be held on Tuesday 1 November with the main race getting underway as Flemington Race 7 at 3pm (AEST). Check your local guides for tv coverage.

Tuesday, 7 November 2023, 3pm (AEST)

Melbourne Cup Day – Race Schedule

Melbourne Cup Day typically features 10 races on the event card with Race 7 at 3pm the annual time slot for the big race. The Melbourne Cup is the only Group 1 race of the day alongside two Group 3’s and three Listed races to round out the schedule.

Time:
Race:
Race Name:
Distance:
10.45am
R1
1000m
11.20am
R2
1800m
12.00pm
R3
1800m
12.40pm
             R4 Schweppervescence 3YO Plate
1000m
1.20pm
R5
The Macca’s Run             2800m
        1.55pm             R6
Subzero Handicap for grey horses
1400m
3.00pm
R7
MELBOURNE CUP
3200m
3.50pm
R8
1400m
4.35pm
R9
1400m
5.15pm
            R10 Paramount Trophy
1400m

(All race times listed are AEST)

Melbourne Cup Prize Money

The total prize money for the cup now stands at $8,000,000 making it one of the richest races in the world. The prize pool is split between the top 12 runners in the following amounts.

Place:
Prize Money:
1st Prize:
$4,400,000
2nd Prize:
$1,100,000
3rd Prize:
$550,000
4th Prize:
$350,000
5th Prize:
$230,000
6th Prize:
$160,000
7th Prize:
$160,000
8th Prize:
$160,000
9th Prize:
$160,000
10th Prize:
$160,000
11th Prize:
$160,000
12th Prize:
$160,000

Past Melbourne Cup Winners

See table below for a snapshot of past winners of this nation stopping event, to view all past cup winners including jockeys and trainers then simply click through the link below.

Year Winner Jockey Trainer
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
Without A Fight
Gold Trip
Verry Elleegant
Twilight Payment
Vow And Declare
Cross Counter
Rekindling
Almandin
Prince of Penzance
Protectionist
Fiorente
Green Moon
Dunaden
Americain
Shocking
Viewed
Efficient
Delta Blues
Makybe Diva
Makybe Diva
Makybe Diva
Media Puzzle
Mark Zahra
Mark Zahra
James McDonald
Jye McNeil
Craig Williams
Kerrin McEvoy
Corey Brown
Kerrin McEvoy
Michelle Payne
Ryan Moore
Damien Oliver
Brett Prebble
C. Lemaire
Gerard Mosse
C. Brown
B Shinn
M Rodd
Yasunari Iwata
Glen Boss
Glen Boss
Glen Boss
Damien Oliver
Anthony & Sam Freedman
Ciaron Maher & D Eustace
Chris Waller
Joseph O’Brien
Danny O’Brien
Charlie Appleby
Joseph O’Brien
Robert Hickmott
Darren Weir
Andreas Wöhler
Gai Waterhouse
Robert Hickmott
Mikel Delzangles
Alain de Royer Dupre
Mark Kavanagh
Bart Cummings
Graeme Rogerson
Katsuhiko Sumii
Lee Freedman
Lee Freedman
D Hall
D Weld

View all past Melbourne Cup results

2023 Melbourne Cup Carnival

The Melbourne Cup Carnival is certainly the highlight of the Victorian spring racing season and is held each year at Flemington racecourse. The carnival features four days of world class racing and takes place in early
November each year.

The first day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival kicks off with Derby Day on Saturday 4 November 2023. The feature race of the day is the Group 1 AAMI Victoria Derby over 2500m for three year olds. With a total of three Group 1 races on the cards this is a day for the racing purists.

Next up on the Tuesday 7th November 2023 is the big one, Melbourne Cup Day which features a ten race card program with the Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup over 3200m the obvious feature event of the day.

Later that same week on Thursday 9th November 2023 will see what is traditionally known as Ladies Day once again fill up the stands at Flemington for Oaks Day. The feature event of the day for some is the fashions on the field but for the racing fans it is the Group 1 Kennedy Oaks over 2500m for the fillies.

Rounding out the Cup Carnival is TAB Champions Stakes Day on Saturday 11th November 2023. Known now as “Family Day” the front lawn on the Flemington straight will be packed with kids and parents enjoying a relaxing picnic along with a host of other special activities set up by the VRC. There are three Group 1  feature race on the day with the Darley Champions Sprint over 1200m, the Kennedy Champions Mile over 1600m and the TAB Champions Stakes over 2000m. It is a great way to finish off an action packed week of racing.

History Of Melbourne Cup Race

The Melbourne Cup two-mile handicap was introduced in 1861 and is now the richest handicap in the world with prize money of over $7,700,000.

Sponsored by the VRC, the Melbourne Cup is for 3 year olds and older and is run over a 3200 metre course. Held on the first Tuesday in November at the Flemington Racecourse, millions of Australians from all walks of life stand still to watch a single horse race that lasts no more than a couple of minutes.

The first ever Melbourne Cup was won by a horse called Archer with the event featuring 17 horses. The prize money on offer back then was £170 plus a prestigious gold watch. With over 150 years of history, the Melbourne Cup now draws over 100,000 people to Flemington Racecourse every year.

Flemington Racecourse – How To Get To The Melbourne Cup

The Melbourne Cup is held at Flemington Racecourse which is located in Melbourne, Victoria. The track is situated alongside the beautiful Maribyrnong River and the racecourse is now listed as National Heritage site.

Address: 400 Epsom Rd, Flemington VIC 3031, Australia

Telephone: 1300 727 575

Flemington racecourse has its own train station and many revellers will take the train to Flemington racecourse during the Melbourne Cup carnival. Trains for Flemington depart platforms 8 and 9 at Flinders Street Station.
You can also take the No. 57 Tram, which will drop you off at the Epsom Road entrance to Flemington Racecourse.