- 1961 MELBOURNE CUP – LORD FURY
- 1962 MELBOURNE CUP – EVEN STEVENS
- 1963 MELBOURNE CUP – GATUM GATUM
- 1964 MELBOURNE CUP – POLO PRINCE
- 1965 MELBOURNE CUP – LIGHT FINGERS
- 1966 MELBOURNE CUP – GALILEE
- 1967 MELBOURNE CUP – RED HANDED
- 1968 MELBOURNE CUP – RAIN LOVER
- 1969 MELBOURNE CUP – RAIN LOVER
- 1970 MELBOURNE CUP – BAGHDAD NOTE
1961 MELBOURNE CUP – LORD FURY
Race Info:
Placings: 1st Place Lord Fury, 2nd Place Grand Print, 3rd Place Dhaulagiri
Jockeys: R. Selkrig, R. Hutchinson, G. Lane
Trainers: F. B. Lewis, J. Besanko, B. Courtney
Winner’s Time: 3:10.50
Weight: 48.08kg
Odds: 20/1
Prize money: £20,750
About:
In the lead up to the 1961 Melbourne Cup, Lord Fury ran a disappointing last in the Mackinnon Stakes after placing second in the Caulfield Cup. Because of this poor performance on Derby Day, Lord Fury went into the Melbourne Cup with a 20/1 chance. Straight out of the gates he put on a courageous front running display, leading on the straight by four lengths to beat Grand Print and the odds.
The 1961 Melbourne Cup also saw the introduction of the Totalisator Agency Board (TAB).
1962 MELBOURNE CUP – EVEN STEVENS
Race Info:
Placings: 1st Place Even Stevens, 2nd Place Comicquita, 3rd Place Aquanita
Jockeys: L. Coles, D. Lake, F. Moore
Trainers: A. McGregor, A. Lopes, R. J. Shaw
Winner’s Time: 3:21.40
Weight: 53.07kg
Odds: 3/1f
Prize money: £20,750
About:
The first horse to be air-freighted from New Zealand to Melbourne, Even Stevens’ 1962 win in the Melbourne Cup meant he became the fifth horse to win the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups double in the same year. At the time the bets wagered on Even Stevens were some of the biggest the spring carnival had ever seen. A 3/1 favourite for the race, after having won the Werribee Cup seven days earlier, Even Stevens didn’t disappoint, winning by four lengths.
The 1962 Melbourne Cup was also the first time Fashions on the Field was held at the Carnival.
1963 MELBOURNE CUP – GATUM GATUM
Race Info:
Placings: 1st Place Gatum Gatum, 2nd Place Ilumquh, 3rd Place Grand Print
Jockeys: J. Johnson, R. J. Skelton, J. Purtell
Trainers: H. G. Heagney, E. Ropiha, J. Besanko
Winner’s Time: 3:21.10
Weight: 49.9kg
Odds: 25/1
Prize money: £25,200
About:
After sitting in third place for most of the 1963 Melbourne Cup, Gatum Gatum got up pace on the straight and showed he still had plenty of stamina, overtaking the leaders to win Cup victory by one length. Four years later Gatum Gatum won the Gawler Cup.
1964 MELBOURNE CUP – POLO PRINCE
Race Info:
Placings: 1st Place Polo Prince, 2nd Place Elkayel, 3rd Place Welltown
Jockeys: R. Taylor, G. Huges, F. Reys
Trainers: J. P. Carter, A. McGregor, P. B. Quinlan
Winner’s Time: 3:19.60
Weight: 52.16kg
Odds: 12/1
Prize money: £25,750
About:
The New Zealand bred Polo Prince did not disappoint punters or fans when he took out the 1964 Melbourne Cup. His original odds were 20/1, but a successful fourth place in the Mackinnon Stakes meant he entered the Cup backed at 12/1.
1965 MELBOURNE CUP – LIGHT FINGERS
Race Info:
Placings: 1st Place Light Fingers, 2nd Place Ziema, 3rd Place Midlander
Jockeys: R. Higgins, J. Miller, N. Pyatt
Trainers: J. B. Cummings, J. B. Cummings, R. E. Hoystead
Winner’s Time: 3:21.10
Weight: 52.62kg
Odds: 15/1
Prize money: £30,750
About:
Light Fingers’ 1965 Melbourne Cup win gave her the title of having carried the highest weight to victory for a mare at the time. She was a hard working horse known for her spirit and racing determination, which paid off when she won the Cup by the slimmest of margins, a short half a head.
Race Info:
Placings: 1st Place Galilee, 2nd Place Light Fingers, 3rd Place Duo
Jockeys: J. Miller, R. Higgins, G. Podmore
Trainers: J. B. Cummings, J. B. Cummings, A. Dickerson
Winner’s Time: 3:21.90
Weight: 56.7kg
Odds: 11/2f
Prize money: $62,000
About:
Galilee’s win in the 1966 Melbourne Cup meant he was only the second horse in a single campaign to win the Toorak Handicap and Caulfield – Melbourne Cups double, the first to do so was Trump in 1937. After the win at Flemington Galilee won the Sydney Cup in Autumn, creating a new race record, the first horse to win the Sydney, Melbourne and Caulfield Cups treble.
1967 MELBOURNE CUP – RED HANDED
Race Info:
Placings: 1st Place Red Handed, 2nd Place Red Crest, 3rd Place Floodbird
Jockeys: R. Higgins, R. Taylor, J. Stocker
Trainers: J. B. Cummings, J. W. Winder, L. M. Armfield
Winner’s Time: 3:20.40
Weight: 54.88kg
Odds: 4/1f
Prize money: $62,000
About:
Red Handed’s win in the 1967 Melbourne Cup gave trainer Bart Cummings his third Cup in succession. Red Handed went into the race a 4/1 equal favourite to win, after placing fourth in the Mackinnon Stakes and second in the Caulfield Cup.
1968 MELBOURNE CUP – RAIN LOVER
Race Info:
Placings: 1st Place Rain Lover, 2nd Place Fileur, 3rd Place Fans
Jockeys: J. Johnson, J. Stocker, H. Rauhihi
Trainers: M. L. Robins, C. S. Hayes, E. Ropiha
Winner’s Time: 3:19.10
Weight: 51.71kg
Odds: 7/1
Prize money: $62,000
About:
With a new trainer only four months before the 1968 Melbourne Cup, Rain Lover secured Cup victory in an eight length win, the equal winning margin of Archer in 1862. Rain Lover’s Cup time of 3:19.10 beat the record and stood for 22 years. Having won the Adelaide Cup the previous Autumn, Rain Lover later went on to win the prestigious Australian Horse of the Year Award for 1968-1969.
1969 MELBOURNE CUP – RAIN LOVER
Race Info:
Placings: 1st Place Rain Lover, 2nd Place Alsop, 3rd Place Ben Lomond
Jockeys: J. Johnson, R. Setches, Lang
Trainers: M. L. Robins, D. J. Mack, J. W. Winder
Winner’s Time: 3:21.50
Weight: 60.33kg
Odds: 8/1
Prize money: $77,000
About:
The 1969 Melbourne Cup saw the gallant Rain Lover secure back-to-back Melbourne Cup victories, while carrying an incredible 60.33kg, an extraordinary feat. The win was jockey Jim Johnson’s third Cup triumph. At the time, Rain Lover was the first horse since the original champion Archer to win the Melbourne Cup in successive years.
1970 MELBOURNE CUP – BAGHDAD NOTE
Race Info:
Placings: 1st Place Baghdad Note, 2nd Place Vansittart, 3rd Place Clear Prince
Jockeys: E. Didham, R. Setches, P. Cook
Trainers: R. Heasley, G. M. Hanlon, C. S. Hayes
Winner’s Time: 3:19.70
Weight: 53.98kg
Odds: 25/1
Prize money: $77 000
About:
Baghdad Note’s 1970 Melbourne Cup win came off the back of his dead-heat for third in the Caulfield Cup, and he had therefore drawn attention from the punters. He won by three quarters of a length after surging forward to take the lead with 100 metres left to run.