Melbourne Cup 2021 At A Glance: What You Need to Know

On Tuesday the nation will stand still for the greatest three minutes in sport when a line-up of the world’s best stayers faces off in the Group 1 $8 million Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington Racecourse for the 161^st time.

Incentivise (Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos) | Races.com.au

Incentivise is the horse to beat in this year’s 2021 Melbourne Cup field. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

Below is everything you need to know about the ‘race that stops a nation’ ahead of the 2021 Melbourne Cup race.

When Is the Melbourne Cup Run? Tuesday November 2, 2021

The Melbourne Cup race takes place on the first Tuesday of November every year. 1875 was the first time the race was held on the first Tuesday in November.

When Does the Melbourne Cup Start? 3:00pm (AEDT)

The Melbourne Cup starts at 3:00pm local time in Melbourne (AEDT). Click here to view the official Melbourne Cup start times for your state or territory.

Where Is the Melbourne Cup Held? Flemington Racecourse.

Victoria’s famous Flemington Racecourse is host to the iconic Melbourne Cup race every spring. The area is located next to the Maribyrnong River and was first used for horse racing in March 1840.

What Race Number is the Melbourne Cup? Race 7.

The Melbourne Cup always runs as Flemington Race 7 at 3:00pm (AEDT) on the first Tuesday of November and is one of the most watched and celebrated annual sporting events.

How Far Is the Melbourne Cup? 3200m.

The Melbourne Cup distance is 3200m or in imperial terms “two miles”. Two miles is traditional Cup distance around the world. Officially the 3200m distance is just short of two miles (3219m). Up until 1972 the Melbourne Cup was run over 3219m but was reduced 19m to the 3200m (1 mile, 1740 yards) in 1972 with the introduction of the metric system to Australia.

What Edition Is This Year’s Melbourne Cup? 161^st

The time-honoured Melbourne Cup was first contested in 1861 when Archer won. Archer also became the first dual Melbourne Cup winner the following year in 1862. The 2021 Melbourne Cup is the 161^st edition of the world’s richest handicap race.

How Much Is the Melbourne Cup Worth? $8 million.

The Melbourne Cup is the second richest race run and won in Australia following Sydney’s $15 million The Everest. A total of $8 million in prize money is currently on offer in the race, plus trophies valued at $250,000. The Melbourne Cup prize money is distributed from 1^st to 12^th. The Melbourne Cup prize money first hit $8 million in 2019 with the 1985 edition won by the Lloyd Williams-owned What A Nuisance was the first Melbourne Cup race to offer $1 million in stakes.

How Much Does the Melbourne Cup Winner Earn? $4.4 million.

The winning Melbourne Cup horse takes out an incredible $4.4 million first prize. Following the Melbourne Cup first prize the remainder of the prize money is distributed as follows:

2nd: $1.1 million
3rd: $550,000
4th: $350,000
5th: $230,000
6^th – 12^th: $160,000

When Is The Melbourne Cup 2021 Field Announced?

The final acceptances for the Melbourne Cup close at 4:30pm (AEDT) on Saturday October 30, 2021 and the official Melbourne Cup final field and barrier draw is announced following the Victoria Derby Day racing action.

What Horse Holds the Record in the Melbourne Cup? Kingston Rule.

Kingston Rule set the current Melbourne Cup race record winning in a time of 3 minutes 16.3 seconds in 1990.

What Horse Won Last Year’s Melbourne Cup? Twilight Payment.

Irish horseman Joseph O’Brien celebrated his second Melbourne Cup victory last year handing prolific owner Lloyd Williams an incredible seventh trophy with Twilight Payment defeating two other international raiders. Twilight Payment is back to defend his Melbourne Cup title and if successful will become the first multiple winner since the heroic three-peat of the mare Makybe Diva (2003-05).

What Type of Race is the Melbourne Cup? Handicap.

The Melbourne Cup is a handicap race. That means the “better” horses in the race with a higher handicap rating (from number of and grade of races won previously and amount of career prize money) carry more weight than those lower down the handicap scale. Handicap races “even out” the chances of the horses in the field. The minimum weight a horse must carry in the Melbourne Cup is 49kg.

What Horse Carries the Top-Weight in the 2021 Melbourne Cup?

The reigning champion Twilight Payment, if accepted, will carry this year’s Melbourne Cup top-weight of 58kg. The same horse had three kilograms less when carting 55kg to victory in the 2020 Melbourne Cup results.

Who Are the Most Successful Melbourne Cup Jockeys? Bobbie Lewis and Harry White.

Both Bobbie Lewis (1902, 1915, 1919, 1927) and Harry White (1974, 1975, 1978, 1979) won the Melbourne Cup four times during their riding careers. Seven jockeys have won three editions of the race including three with rides in the 2021 Melbourne Cup. The three three-time Melbourne Cup winning jockeys looking to equal the record this year (pending final acceptances) are:

Kerrin McEvoy (2000, 2016, 2018) on Grand Promenade
Glen Boss (2003, 2004, 2005) on Sir Lucan
Damien Oliver (1995, 2002, 2013) on Delphi

What Horse is the Melbourne Cup Favourite This Year? Incentivise.

The Peter Moody-trained Queensland expat Incentivise is favourite in Melbourne Cup betting this year having won his past nine starts including a trio of Group 1 races this campaign. Incentivise is a five-year-old Shamus Award gelding and he has already won over $4.6 million in prize money. His last start produced a 3.5 length Group 1 Caulfield Cup victory over 2400m. He is around $2.40 in all-in Melbourne Cup betting at Ladbrokes.com.au making him the shortest-priced Melbourne Cup favourite since Phar Lap (8/11 or $1.73) in 1930.