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Melbourne Cup Day is the single biggest event on the Australian horse racing calendar as it is host to the country’s premier thoroughbred event, the Group 1 $8.56 million Melbourne Cup (3200m).

Sponsored by Lexus, Melbourne Cup Day 2024 is scheduled for Tuesday, November 5, 2024 and is the second of four major meetings that make up the classic Melbourne Cup Carnival.

Melbourne Cup Day runs on the first Tuesday of November annually at Flemington Racecourse and the Melbourne Cup field always face off at 3:00pm (AEDT).

2024 Melbourne Cup Day Betting

There are traditionally nine other Flemington races on the Melbourne Cup Day 2024 card giving punters plenty of other chances to win outside of tipping the Melbourne Cup results.

The most popular race to enjoy a punt on on the first Tuesday of November is of course the Melbourne Cup field featuring a capacity 24 stayers from around the world.

Melbourne Cup Day nominations close the Wednesday of the previous week with the Melbourne Cup Day race fields announced the Friday before Victoria Derby Day on the first Saturday of November.

That is of course except for the Melbourne Cup. View our official Melbourne Cup Field page for all the information on when entries and the final acceptances for the ‘Race That Stops a Nation’ are taken.

Read more on Melbourne Cup betting.

2024 Melbourne Cup Day Race Schedule

The official 2024 Melbourne Cup Day races and times will be released closer to Melbourne Cup week 2024 and published below.

Melbourne Cup Day Races

Group 3 $200,000 Darley Maribyrnong Plate (1000 METRES)

$150,000 The Schweppervescence Plate (1000 METRES)

Listed $175,000 The Amanda Elliott (1400 METRES)

$175,000 Listed TAB Trophy (1800 METRES)

$150,000 MSS Security Subzero Handicap (1400 METRES)

$150,000 BM90 Handicap (1400 METRES)

$175,000 Listed Furphy Plate (1800 METRES)

$8,560,000 Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200 METRES)

$250,000 Australian Heritage Cup (2800 METRES)

Group 3 $200,000 The Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1400 METRES)

The Melbourne Cup Race Number is Flemington Race 7 for 2023 on Melbourne Cup Day (cf “year”).

What Time Does the Melbourne Cup Run?

• Queensland: 2:00pm
• New South Wales: 3:00pm
• Victoria: 3:00pm
• Tasmania: 3:00pm
• Northern Territory: 1:30pm
• ACT: 3:00pm
• Western Australia: 12:00pm
• UK & Ireland: 4:00am
• New Zealand: 5:00pm
• Japan: 1:00pm
• Hong Kong: 12:00pm
• Dubai: 8:00am

The Melbourne Cup Carnival kicks off on the Saturday before Melbourne Cup Day with Victoria Derby Day and concludes the following Saturday with Champions Stakes Day.

Along with Melbourne Cup Day on the Tuesday, which attracts in excess of 100,000 spectators at the track, race fans and punters are also treated to another midweek event with VRC Oaks Day for the ladies on the Thursday.

A total of ten Melbourne Cup Day races will take place this year with the 2024 Melbourne Cup the sole Group 1 event on the program.

The premier event is of course the world’s richest handicap, the Melbourne Cup, which runs as at 3:00pm (AEDT) every Melbourne Cup Day.

Remember you don’t have to wait until Melbourne Cup Day to place your bets on the world’s richest handicap as Ladbrokes.com.au have the hottest Melbourne Cup pre-nomination odds open all year!