• 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: 1^st Place Lord Fury, 2^nd Place Grand Print, 3^rd 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: 1^st Place Even Stevens, 2^nd Place Comicquita, 3^rd 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: 1^st Place Gatum Gatum, 2^nd Place Ilumquh, 3^rd 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: 1^st Place Polo Prince, 2^nd Place Elkayel, 3^rd 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: 1^st Place Light Fingers, 2^nd Place Ziema, 3^rd 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.

1966 MELBOURNE CUP – GALILEE

Race Info:

Placings: 1^st Place Galilee, 2^nd Place Light Fingers, 3^rd 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: 1^st Place Red Handed, 2^nd Place Red Crest, 3^rd 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: 1^st Place Rain Lover, 2^nd Place Fileur, 3^rd 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: 1^st Place Rain Lover, 2^nd Place Alsop, 3^rd 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: 1^st Place Baghdad Note, 2^nd Place Vansittart, 3^rd 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.