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 $6.25 million Melbourne Cup (3200m).

Sponsored by Emirates, Melbourne Cup Day 2018 is scheduled for Tuesday November 6, 2018 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 as Flemington Race 7 at 3:00pm (AEDT).

Melbourne Cup Day Betting

There are traditionally nine other Flemington races on the Melbourne Cup Day 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 Flemington Race 7 – 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 The Nation’ are taken.

Bet on the 2018 Melbourne Cup 

Read more on Melbourne Cup betting.

2018 Melbourne Cup Day Race Schedule

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

• Group 1 $7.25 million Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m)
• Group 3 $200,000 The Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1400m)
• Group 3 $150,000 Bumble Stakes (1000m)
• Listed $150,000 Jim Beam Black Stakes (1400m)
• Listed $150,000 Furphy Plate (1800m)
• Listed $150,000 Security Sprint (1200m)
• $120,000 Schweppes Flemington Fling (1000m)
• $120,000 Ronald McDonald House Charities Plate (2800m)
• $120,000 Grinders Coffee Roasters Trophy (1400m)
• $120,000 APP Trophy (1700m)

The Melbourne Cup always runs as Flemington Race 7 on Melbourne Cup Day.

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 Emirates 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 2018 Melbourne Cup the sole Group 1 event on the program.

Other highlights on the Melbourne Cup Day schedule however include two Group 3 events and as many as four Listed features.

The premier event is of course the world’s richest handicap, the Melbourne Cup, which runs as Flemington Race 7 at 3:00pm (AEDST) every Melbourne Cup Day.

The 2018 Melbourne Cup Trophy is valued at an incredible $175,000 this year and is crafted, as usual, by Hardy Brothers Jewellers. Made from 34 separate pieces of gold, the trophy is crafted by hand, with over 200 hours spent beating the gold.

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 now!