Distance
3200m (~2 mi)
Surface
Turf
Eligibility
3yo+
Grade
G1
Track
Flemington Racecourse
Location
Melbourne, Australia
When
First Tuesday in November
About the race
The race that stops a nation — 2 miles on turf, run on the first Tuesday in November. Australia's national racing holiday.
Race history
First run in 1861. The Melbourne Cup is a public holiday in Victoria; the broader country effectively pauses for the race. Field is capped at 24 horses, the largest of any major race. International raiders (especially Irish + UK + Japanese) have dominated since the 2000s.
Betting trends
What sharps watch for
- 01
Stayers — pure 2-mile horses with proven distance form. Mile/route specialists rarely cope.
- 02
International raiders win disproportionately given quarantine costs; the prestige + payout justifies the trip.
- 03
Field of 24 makes for chaotic exotics; trifectas + first-fours pay out heavily.
Recent winners
Last 4 editions
| Year | Winner | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Knight's Choice | 91-1 |
| 2023 | Without A Fight | — |
| 2022 | Gold Trip | — |
| 2021 | Verry Elleegant | — |
Where to bet the Melbourne Cup
US pari-mutuel wagering happens through licensed operators. TVG (FanDuel-owned) and TwinSpires (Churchill Downs) are the two largest dedicated US racing platforms; both ship win/place/show plus the full exotic ladder (exacta, trifecta, superfecta, daily double, Pick 3/4/6) at the Flemington Racecourse meeting.
Other International
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