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This page covers all Melbourne Cup winners, the race's rich history, prize money, and everything you need to know before the next running.
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The Melbourne Cup is known as “the race that stops a nation” ā and for good reason. Run on the first Tuesday of November at Flemington Racecourse, it’s the most watched and bet-on horse race in Australia. This page covers all Melbourne Cup winners, the race’s rich history, prize money, and everything you need to know before the next running. For more horse racing content, visit our horse racing hub or explore the full Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival guide.
See also our complete Melbourne Cup tips, field & guide.
Melbourne Cup Winners List
Below is the Melbourne Cup winners list from 2015 to 2024. All results are confirmed. For earlier historical results, see the Melbourne Cup History section below.
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Barrier | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Knight’s Choice | Mark Zahra | C Maher & D Eustace | ā | ā |
| 2023 | Without A Fight | Mark Zahra | C Maher & D Eustace | ā | ā |
| 2022 | Gold Trip | Mark Zahra | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | 10 | $18.00 |
| 2021 | Verry Elleegant | James McDonald | Chris Waller | 6 | $8.00 |
| 2020 | Twilight Payment | Jye McNeil | Joseph O’Brien | 14 | $14.00 |
| 2019 | Vow And Declare | Craig Williams | Danny O’Brien | 5 | $11.00 |
| 2018 | Cross Counter | Kerrin McEvoy | Charlie Appleby | 1 | $16.00 |
| 2017 | Rekindling | Corey Brown | Joseph O’Brien | 11 | $10.00 |
| 2016 | Almandin | Kerrin McEvoy | Robert Hickmott | 4 | $11.00 |
| 2015 | Prince Of Penzance | Michelle Payne | Darren Weir | 14 | $101.00 |
Note: Barrier and starting price data for 2023ā2024 to be confirmed and updated closer to publication. The table will be expanded annually after each running.
Melbourne Cup History
The Melbourne Cup was first run in 1861, making it one of the oldest major thoroughbred races in the world. Held at Flemington Racecourse in Victoria, the race covers 3,200 metres and is run as a Group 1 handicap ā meaning horses carry different weights based on their ratings, giving every runner a theoretical chance.
In its early decades, the Melbourne Cup was largely a local event, drawing horses from Victoria and New South Wales. Through the 20th century it grew into a national occasion ā and eventually an international one. By the 1990s and 2000s, top stables from Europe, Japan, and Ireland began targeting the race specifically, attracted by the prize money and the prestige of the handicap format.
The Cup has produced some of the most iconic moments in Australian sporting history:
- Phar Lap (1930): The beloved chestnut gelding won the Cup in commanding style, cementing his status as one of Australia’s greatest sporting icons. He carried 62.5kg ā the equal-highest weight carried to victory in the race’s history.
- Peter Pan (1932 & 1934): One of the few horses to win the Cup twice in the pre-war era, Peter Pan remains a revered figure in Australian turf history.
- Rain Lover (1968 & 1969): A back-to-back winner who dominated the Cup in the late 1960s. Rain Lover’s consecutive wins remain a defining chapter of the race’s modern history.
- Makybe Diva (2003, 2004 & 2005): The greatest achievement in Melbourne Cup history. Trained by Lee Freedman (2003ā2004) and Mark Kavanagh (2005), ridden by Glen Boss each time, Makybe Diva won three consecutive Cups. No horse before or since has matched that feat. Her 2005 victory was greeted by an outpouring of emotion at Flemington that is still talked about today.
- Michelle Payne (2015): When Prince Of Penzance won at $101, jockey Michelle Payne became the first woman to ride a Melbourne Cup winner ā a landmark moment in Australian sport.
- International takeover: Since Jeune’s win in 1994, European-trained horses have dominated. Trainers like Aidan O’Brien, Joseph O’Brien, and Charlie Appleby have become regular presences in the Melbourne Cup stalls.
The race is run under handicap conditions, with weights allocated by Racing Victoria’s official handicapper. Top-rated horses carry more weight, which is why lightly weighted, improving three- and four-year-olds have historically been strong value bets. The 24-horse field, drawn from Australian and international nominations, makes the Melbourne Cup one of the most competitive staying races in the world.
Melbourne Cup Prize Money
The Melbourne Cup currently offers a total prize pool of approximately $8 million, with first place receiving around $4.4 million ā making it one of the richest two-mile races in the world.
Prize money distribution for a typical running:
| Finishing Position | Approximate Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | ~$4,400,000 |
| 2nd | ~$1,200,000 |
| 3rd | ~$600,000 |
| 4th | ~$300,000 |
| 5thā8th | ~$150,000 each |
| 9thā24th | ~$50,000ā$80,000 each |
The prize pool has grown substantially over the decades. In the race’s early years, the total prize was a few hundred pounds. By the 1980s it had reached the millions. The current $8 million pool ā established with Victoria Racing Club and Racing Victoria support ā reflects the Melbourne Cup’s status as a genuine global race.
Prize money is shared between the owner (the primary beneficiary), trainer (typically 10%), and jockey (typically 5%). For the winning connections of a $4.4 million prize, that means roughly $3.5 million to the owner, $440,000 to the trainer, and $220,000 to the jockey.
Melbourne Cup Betting Markets
The Melbourne Cup is the most heavily wagered single-race event in Australian sport. Bookmakers offer a full range of markets from outright win betting through to exotic multi-leg bets. Here’s a breakdown of the main bet types available:
| Market | Description |
|---|---|
| Win | Back a horse to finish first. The simplest and most popular Melbourne Cup bet. |
| Place | Back a horse to finish in the top three (or top four with some bookmakers for fields of 16+). |
| Each Way | Two bets in one ā win and place at the same stake. A safety net on longer-priced runners. |
| Quinella | Pick the two horses that finish first and second, in any order. |
| Exacta | Pick the first two finishers in the correct order. Higher payout than a quinella. |
| Trifecta | Pick the first three finishers in correct order. Melbourne Cup trifectas regularly pay five and six figures. |
| First 4 | Pick the first four finishers in correct order. The hardest single-race bet ā but the biggest payouts. See our First 4 calculator to work out coverage percentages. |
| Futures / Ante-Post | Back a horse before final fields are declared. Best odds are usually available weeks or months before race day. |
Multi-leg exotic bets like the Quaddie and Daily Double are also popular on Melbourne Cup day, combining the Cup with earlier races on the card. Use our Quaddie calculator and Same Race Multi guide to get the most out of your Cup day betting.
Best Bookmakers for the Melbourne Cup
All major Australian bookmakers offer comprehensive Melbourne Cup markets. Here are our top picks for race day betting:
| Bookmaker | Best For |
|---|---|
| Picklebet | Competitive win odds, Same Race Multi, fast payouts |
| Dabble | Social betting features, community tips, multi builder |
| Neds | Racing depth, fixed and tote options, Neds Rewards |
| Ladbrokes | Exotic markets, multi-up offers, live streaming |
| bet365 | In-play coverage, live streaming, early Cup markets |
For a full comparison of racing bookmakers in Australia, visit our best horse racing betting sites page.
Melbourne Cup FAQs
When is the Melbourne Cup?
The Melbourne Cup is run on the first Tuesday of November each year at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Victoria. The race typically starts at approximately 3:00 pm AEDT. In 2025, it was run on Tuesday, 4 November. The 2026 running will take place on Tuesday, 3 November 2026.
How long is the Melbourne Cup race?
The Melbourne Cup is run over 3,200 metres (approximately two miles) on the Flemington turf course. It takes most winners around 3 minutes and 15ā25 seconds to complete the distance, depending on tempo and ground conditions.
What is the Melbourne Cup prize money?
The Melbourne Cup currently offers a total prize pool of approximately $8 million AUD, with the winning connections receiving around $4.4 million. This makes it one of the richest distance races in the world. Prize money is shared between the owner, trainer (typically 10%), and jockey (typically 5%).
Who has won the most Melbourne Cups?
Makybe Diva holds the record with three consecutive wins (2003, 2004, 2005) ā a feat that has never been matched before or since. Among jockeys, Bobby Lewis and Harry White each rode four Cup winners. Among trainers, Bart Cummings won 12 Melbourne Cups across his legendary career, a record that is unlikely to ever be surpassed.
Can I bet on the Melbourne Cup?
Yes. The Melbourne Cup is available to bet on at all licensed Australian bookmakers. Markets open months before the race, with futures betting available from mid-year. On race day itself, all bookmakers offer win, place, each way, quinella, exacta, trifecta, and First 4 markets. You must be 18 or over and located in Australia to bet legally. Visit our betting sites Australia page to compare the best options.
#AD 18+ T&Cs Apply Imagine what you could be buying instead. For free & confidential support call 180 0858 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 LimitĀ 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 LimitĀ 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 LimitĀ For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
#AD 18+ T&Cs Apply Imagine what you could be buying instead. For free & confidential support call 180 0858 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 LimitĀ For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
Exclusive 365AUCODE referral code: bet365 does not offer bonus codes in Australia and this referral code does not grant access to offers.18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit LimitĀ For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
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