Melbourne Cup books are quite popular in Australia, as Australians love to read about their favourite sporting heroes – humans and horses alike.

Horse racing has a unique and unbreakable bond with all Australians. It has become part of our culture and a national tradition to attend the elite race days held throughout the country’s picturesque racecourses and place a bet or two on the most famous race of them all, the Melbourne Cup.

Many of us would like to know a little bit more about the races, whether it is the history of the Melbourne Cup, a biography of some of the most celebrated turf champions, or general information on one of our leading sporting events. The best way to go about increasing your knowledge and appreciation of the Cup is to read one of the countless Melbourne Cup books that have been published over the years.

Below is some more information on Melbourne Cup books including some titles you might like to get your hands on before the next edition of the famous Flemington Race 7 on the first Tuesday of November.

Types of Melbourne Cup Books

There are volumes of books dedicated to the winners of the Melbourne Cup and books that cover the complexities, thrills and upsets of single Melbourne Cup runs. The most loved Melbourne Cup horse of all time is without doubt Phar Lap, so it is little wonder that he is also the most written about horse as well with a plethora of fantastic titles dedicated to the Australian racing champion. There are books for punters that detail horse betting tips, racehorse training technique titles, books on horse breeding and care, and even Melbourne Cup books dedicated to dressage.

All good bookstores should have a range of Melbourne Cup books available in-store or to order. There are also a number of online stores that specialise in racing literature such as The Horseman’s Bookshop & Gallery, and the VRC run an online merchandise and memorabilia store with a good variety of books for sale.

Best Melbourne Cup Books

The most popular and highly sought after horse racing book is The History of Australian Thoroughbred Racing. This is a magnificent addition to any collection and is a lively and detailed three-volume manuscript. Many collectors will pay any price for the perfect copy, and the VRC online store has multiple editions for sale including leather bound and boxed set versions ranging in price from $110 to $600! This book encapsulates the rich and extensive history of Australian Thoroughbred Racing and any edition will make the ultimate gift for racing aficionados as a classic racing library piece.

These are just a few of the best Melbourne Cup books available:

Australian Horse Racing: The Punters Guide to Winning by Paul Segar.
Best Australian Horse Racing Systems by Jennifer Stevens.
Fact, Fiction and Fables of the Melbourne Cup by Max Hitchins.
Melbourne Cup 1930: How Phar Lap Won Australia’s Greatest Race by Geoff Armstrong & Peter Thompson.
The Melbourne Cup – Complete History and Statistics by Maurice, Davies & Meurig with a foreword by Bart Cummings.
The Great Melbourne Cup Mystery by Arthur Upfield.
Winners of the Melbourne Cup: Stories that Stopped a Nation by Costa Rolfe & foreword by Bart Cummings.
The Story of the Melbourne Cup, Australia’s Greatest Race by Stephen Howell

So whether you are a book worm, horse lover, racing collector or just generally want to up your knowledge of one of Australia’s most loved and watched events, check out some of the excellent Melbourne Cup books available and get reading!