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The Melbourne Cup 2026 isn’t just a horse race — it’s Australia’s most iconic sporting event, a global staying test that stops the nation every first Tuesday in November. As the jewel of the spring racing carnival, the Cup attracts elite stayers from around the world, millions in prize money, and unmatched attention from punters chasing history, value and that life changing trifecta. From the famous Flemington straight to the roar of 100,000 fans, the Melbourne Cup delivers high drama, deep form analysis, and the kind of stories that define Australian racing. Whether you’re hunting early Melbourne Cup odds, tracking the international raiders in this year’s Melbourne Cup field, or diving into expert Melbourne Cup tips and predictions, our Melbourne Cup guide keeps you ahead of the market with the latest news, betting insights, and race day essentials to help you find the winner of the race that truly stops the nation.

2026 Melbourne Cup Results

The 2026 Melbourne Cup results will be known when the race runs on Tuesday November 3, 2026. 

Winning Margin: 3.75 lengths

Winning Time: 3:21.88

Winning Barrier: 8

The 2026 Melbourne Cup results produced a race domination for trainer Ciaron Maher, who saddled the trifecta in the 166th running of Australia’s greatest race. Geelong Cup winner Point Of Law ($7F) continued his meteoric rise with a stunning victory under Ethan Brown, becoming the most lightly raced Melbourne Cup winner in history at just his sixth career start. The progressive son of Frankel stormed home to defeat stablemates Zahrann and Juja Kibo, while Irish raider Sons And Lovers finished fourth. The victory also completed the coveted Geelong Cup-Melbourne Cup double, the first since Dunaden in 2011, and delivered Maher his second Melbourne Cup triumph following Gold Trip’s success in 2022.

Click here for the full story.

2026 Melbourne Cup Race Replay

Point of Law wins the 2026 Melbourne Cup ?

How's that Ladbrokes Geelong Cup form!? pic.twitter.com/hpi1vwc5Nn

— Ladbrokes Australia (@ladbrokescomau) November 3, 2026

2026 Melbourne Cup Odds & Finishing Order

See below for the latest Melbourne Cup 2026 odds followed by the official finishing order after the event this November.

The Melbourne Cup is the most important race on the Australian horse racing calendar. It isn’t called “the race that stops a nation” for nothing – Australia really does come to a halt for an afternoon to watch the Melbourne Cup, which is the world’s richest handicap.

Melbourne Cup 2026 Predictions & Best Bets

Stay tuned for the Races.com.au form team’s expert Melbourne Cup 2026 tips, predictions and best bets on The Cup!

READ OUR FULL 2026 MELBOURNE CUP TIPS & BEST BETS

Favourite: No. 20 Point Of Law

Each Way Danger: No. 12 Hopewell Rock

Next Best: No. 2 Trustyourinstinct

Best Roughie: No. 23 Zakouma

Top 6: No. 1 Sons And Lovers

Top 6: No. 24 Shockletz

Wider Exotics: No. 14 Soul Of Spain

Wider Exotics: No. 16 So You Are

Top 10: No. 11 Juja Kibo

Melbourne Cup Tips

Melbourne Cup tips are the most sought after set of racing predictions all year in Australia.

Early Melbourne Cup betting tips favour proven stayers that may have run in the previous year’s race or run well in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m).

Before Half Yours, Without A Fight (2023) was the other previous Spring Cups double champion.

Vow And Declare (2nd in 2019) is another recent Melbourne Cup winner to come out of the Caulfield Cup.

In 2021 Verry Elleegant, winner of the 2020 Caulfield Cup, defeated that year’s Caulfield Cup champion Incentivise in the Melbourne Cup quinella.

In 2022 Gold Trip became the first horse in five years to run in all three Melbourne Spring Carnival majors finishing second in the Caulfield Cup, ninth in the Cox Plate and winning the 2022 Melbourne Cup.

International raiders making the trip to Flemington Racecourse to line-up in the Melbourne Cup field are also popular when it comes to Melbourne Cup tipping each spring.

The best 2026 Melbourne Cup tips can be found by following the link to our dedicated page.

Held each year on the first Tuesday of November, the Melbourne Cup is a real test of staying power. The Melbourne Cup is raced over a distance of 3200 metres, far longer than any other major event in the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival, so it is certainly not a race that is easy to prepare for. Two miles is the traditional cup race distance and few races in Australia are still contested over these meters.

Every year the Melbourne Cup captures the attention of race fans around the country and abroad. It has now become a truly international affair too with nearly half of the 2026 Melbourne Cup field being raiders trained outside of Australia and New Zealand. Each year the international raiders are well-fancied in the Melbourne Cup Odds as they are bred to go the distance. That said, in 2019 the locally trained Vow And Declare held off the raiders for a home-town win!

In 2020 the internationals were back on top with three running the trifecta with Twilight Payment (1st), Tiger Moth (2nd) and Prince Of Arran (3rd) in his third Melbourne Cup placing.

The 2021 Melbourne Cup results saw Verry Elleegant defeat fellow Australian galloper Incentivise with the UK raider Spanish Mission third.

The 2022 Melbourne Cup winner was the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained French expat Gold Trip who carried the 57.5kg top-weight to an impressive two length win at 20-1.

The 2023 Melbourne Cup winner was the Anthony & Sam Freedman-trained Without A Fight who became the first horse to do the Caulfield Cup – Melbourne Cup double since 2001 ridden to victory by last year’s winning hoop Mark Zahra.

The 2024 Melbourne Cup winner was the John Symons & Shelia Laxon-trained Queensland roughie Knight’s Choice who beat home the Japanese raider Warp Speed at $91 odds in a remarkable upset!

The 2025 Melbourne Cup winner was the local Tony & Calvin McEvoy-trained Half Yours who came via a Caulfield Cup victory and started at $9 odds for his big 2.75 length victory over 40/1 Irish raider Goodie Two Shoes.

The 2026 Melbourne Cup champion Point Of Law won in just his second Australian start for trainer Ciaron Maher after a Geelong Cup win, while the best of the internationally-trained horses was Sons And Lovers (4th).

The Melbourne Cup is one of the few remaining genuine, two-mile races held in Australia each year. The only other 3200m race at Flemington Racecourse is the Andrew Ramsden Stakes, while in New South Wales the Sydney Cup is the country’s other Group 1 over the distance. Australia isn’t known for breeding genuine stayers and that is one of the reasons why every year the Melbourne Cup field features more and more both internationally bred and trained horses.

The race goes for roughly three and a half minutes with the Melbourne Cup race record held by the Bart Cummings-trained Kingston Rule who won in 3:16.30 minutes back in 1990.

The 2026 Melbourne Cup runs on Tuesday November 3, 2026 at 3pm local time as Flemington Race 7. 

2026 Melbourne Cup Betting

The Melbourne Cup betting odds are open nearly all year round on the likely stayers set to line-up in the ‘race that stops a nation’ on the first Tuesday of November.

When looking for the best Melbourne Cup 2026 odds, it is best to start early when the first nominations for the race come out. Online betting sites like Ladbrokes put out early markets on the Melbourne Cup nominations and you can lock in generous prices on your early Melbourne Cup tips in these all-in markets.

If you prefer to leave your betting until later, then you can boost the lower Melbourne Cup odds you receive by taking exotic bets. The highest Melbourne Cup odds always entail an element of risk, but you will feel much better getting paid $1000 for a winning $5 bet than you would getting paid $6.50 just betting on a short Melbourne Cup favourite.

Recent Melbourne Cup history shows favourites have a poor record with the last to salute for the punters at the shortest Melbourne Cup starting price since Makybe Diva (2005) being Fiorente (2013).

That was until 2026, when Point Of Law ($7) became the latest Melbourne Cup favourite to salute.

The 2015 Melbourne Cup results showed that one of the longest-priced horses in that year’s Melbourne Cup odds was the one to back with Prince Of Penzance scoring an upset at $101.

There was a notable upset in 2022 with Gold Trip winning at Melbourne Cup odds of $21.

In 2023 the Melbourne Cup winner Without A Fight started at Melbourne Cup odds of $8.

There was a huge upset in 2024 with Knight’s Choice saluting at Melbourne Cup odds of $91! 

Half Yours was kept safe in 2025 Melbourne Cup betting having won the Caulfield Cup in the lead-up an started at Melbourne Cup odds of $9.

For more information on analysing the odds as well as the latest odds on the Melbourne Cup, please visit our dedicated Melbourne Cup odds page.

2026 Melbourne Cup Field

The 2026 Melbourne Cup final acceptances close at 4:30pm (local time) on Saturday October 31, 2026, with the field made public and published below soon after.

The 2026 Melbourne Cup barrier draw takes place on the evening of Saturday October 31, 2026, from 6:30pm (AEDT) and can be viewed live at Racing.com.

The official Melbourne Cup 2026 Field and Confirmed Barriers have been released with Ciaron Maher’s impressive Ladbrokes Geelong Cup winner Point Of Law drawing ideally in gate nine with the lightly raced four-year-old current co-favourite with Joseph O’Brien’s well-backed Irish raider Trustyourinstinct who drew wider out in gate 18 for jockey James McDonald.

Latest Melbourne Cup 2026 Field Updates & News:

• No. 9 Asterix (6) an official late scratching leaving 23 runners to contest the Cup
• No. 12 Hopewell Rock (14) elevated to outright favourite to win
• Harry Coffey cleared to ride No. 24 Shockletz, Michael Dee loses ride on No. 21. Strictly Business

Click here to read more on the 24-horse Melbourne Cup 2026 final field.

Click here for the full Melbourne Cup 2026 barrier draw breakdown.

Key 2026 Lexus Melbourne Cup Field & Acceptance Dates

Entry & Acceptance Stages	Date
Nominations/Entries	12:00pm Tuesday 1 September
Late Nominations	12:00pm Tuesday 8 September
Weights Released	12:00pm Thursday 17 September
First Declarations	12:00pm Tuesday 29 September
Second Declarations	12:00pm Tuesday 13 October
Third Declarations	10:00am Monday 26 October
Final/Fourth Declarations	4:30pm Saturday 31 October

Already those in the know including the punters are predicting the likely Melbourne Cup field and keeping an eye on the updated Melbourne Cup ballot and order of entry is a good guide to what stayers will make the cut.

Previously, the last chance for stayers to make the 2026 Melbourne Cup final field was Derby Day’s Group 3 Lexus Stakes (2500m). The last Melbourne Cup winner to back-up off a run in the Lexus Stakes only three days before was Shocking (2009) who completed the double. Since 2025 the Lexus Archer Stakes runs earlier in mid-September on Makybe Diva Stakes Day.

2026 Melbourne Cup Jockeys

Ethan Brown is the most recent Melbourne Cup winning jockey having won aboard the race favourite Point Of Law in 2026.

Mark Zahra won the year before in 2023 on Without A Knight and also in 2022 on Gold Trip becoming the first since Harry White (1978-79) to ride two different horses to victory on back-to-back years.

The confirmed 2026 Melbourne Cup jockeys will be updated below as connections lock in a rider for their Melbourne Cup contenders.

See what jockeys have locked in a ride aboard one of the 24 Melbourne Cup horses this spring.

2026 Melbourne Cup Horse (Trainer) – Confirmed Jockey / Rider Booking:

• Sons And Lovers (Joseph O’Brien) – Dylan Browne McMonagle
• Trustyourinstinct (Joseph O’Brien) – James McDonald
• Middle Earth (Ciaron Maher) – Mark Zahra
• Vauban (Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott) – Jordan Childs
• Knight’s Choice (John Symons & Sheila Laxon) – Robbie Dolan
• Royal Supremacy (Ciaron Maher) – Ben Allen
• Enfjaar (Roger Varian) – Ray Dawson
• Wine Dark Sea (Harry Charlton) – Damian Lane
• Juja Kibo (Ciaron Maher) – Sam Clipperton
• Asterix (Chris Waller) – Jye McNeil
• Goodie Two Shoes (Joseph O’Brien) – Wayne Lordan
• Soul Of Spain (Chris Waller) – Tommy Berry
• Onesmoothoperator (Tim Fitzsimmons) – Declan Bates
• Zahrann (Ciaron Maher) – Ben Melham
• Hopewell Rock (George Boughey) – Zac Lloyd
• So You Are (Bjorn Baker) – Rachel King
• James J Braddock (Joseph O’Brien) – Craig Williams
• Future History (Gregory Hickman) – Jamie Melham
• Kizlyar (Joseph O’Brien) – Beau Mertens
• Point Of Law (Ciaron Maher) – Ethan Brown
• Strictly Business (Thomas Carberry) – Dean Yendall (late alt)
• Mr Monaco (Ciaron Maher) – Jabez Johnstone (a)
• Zakouma (Grahame Begg) – William Pike
• Shockletz (Ciaron Maher) – Harry Coffey

The Melbourne Cup field is restricted to 24 horses with no emergencies, but the race receives dozens more nominations in the lead up to the event. The final Melbourne Cup field for each year is released on the Saturday evening before the race, after the conclusion of Victoria Derby Day, and punters wait impatiently for this information each year as it allows them to lock in their final bets. Even still, many punters bide their time until the morning of the Melbourne Cup, just in case something gets scratched or odds improve.

Following the release of the Melbourne Cup field on Victoria Derby Day, which kicks off the four-meeting Melbourne Cup Carnival each year, the Melbourne Cup barrier draw is then released live form Flemington Racecourse.

The final acceptors then take their places at the track in three days’ time on Melbourne Cup Day for their shot at the major first prize on offer to the Melbourne Cup winner.

The horses that make up the Melbourne Cup field are decided based on a few different conditions, and lesser horses are balloted out based on prize money earned in the last two years, performance in specific lead up races, and handicap weight.

The link between the Melbourne Cup and Japan has been growing since the Japanese-trained stable mates Delta Blues and Pop Rock ran the Melbourne Cup quinella finishing first and second in the great race back in 2006.

That was one year after the three-year reign of the magnificent mare Makybe Diva ended following her victories in 2003 – 2005.

Makybe Diva remains the only triple Melbourne Cup winner in history with jockey Glen Boss riding her to victory in all three of her successes.

For the current race field and more on how it is decided, please visit our Melbourne Cup field page.

Melbourne Cup Race Time

Every year the Melbourne Cup runs at the same time, 3:00pm in Melbourne on the first Tuesday in November. Here are the start times for when the Melbourne Cup will jump around the country. Don’t miss out on the ‘race that stops a nation’ by checking the Melbourne Cup start time in your state.

• Melbourne: 3:00pm
• Sydney: 3:00pm
• Brisbane: 2:00pm
• Adelaide: 2:30pm
• Perth: 12:00pm
• Canberra: 3:00pm
• Hobart: 3:00pm
• Darwin: 1:30pm

Wherever you are in the country, make sure you schedule a few minutes aside to watch the spectacle that is the Melbourne Cup. And don’t forget to head to a trusted Melbourne Cup bookmaker like Ladbrokes to back your favourite to join the list of Melbourne Cup winners before race jumps!

As well as holding the same start time, the Melbourne Cup race number remains the same each Cup Day – Flemington Race 7. Many people have their once-a-year bet on the Melbourne Cup results so when you want to place your bets, remember it is Flemington Race 7 at 3:00pm (AEDT) on the first Tuesday of November.

Interestingly, the Melbourne Cup is the only Group 1 race on the Melbourne Cup Day schedule. There are still plenty of other exciting support races on the Melbourne Cup Day card so why not enjoy a full day of Melbourne Cup betting!

There are more choices now than ever before when it comes to Melbourne Cup betting.

Whether you are a once-a-year punter picking the Melbourne Cup winner based on a gut feeling or lucky number, a seasoned professional taking advantage of the generous Melbourne Cup odds available at the online bookmakers or you just pick a horse in your office Melbourne Cup sweep – there really is a way for everyone to get in on this iconic race.

2026 Melbourne Cup Third Acceptances

The 2026 Melbourne Cup third acceptances close on Monday October 26, 2026, at 10:00pm (local time).

The official Lexus Melbourne Cup 2026 third acceptances are now out featuring 39 horses still in the hunt including Ciaron Maher’s Geelong Cup winner and current all-in favourite at Ladbrokes, Point Of Law, and an eight-strong contingent for Ireland’s Joesph O’Brien headed by Trustyourinstinct.

2026 Melbourne Cup Second Acceptances

The Melbourne Cup second acceptances are the second round of declarations taken the Monday before the final field is released on the Saturday before Melbourne Cup Day. The Melbourne Cup second acceptances stage is the final step in the process before the announcement of the final field on Victoria Derby Day and traditionally attract around 30 – 40 hopefuls.

The 2026 Melbourne Cup second acceptances close on Tuesday October 13, 2026, at 12:00pm (local time).

The 2026 Melbourne Cup second acceptances have been taken with 58 remaining chances including 13 international raiders with the Joseph O’Brien-trained Irish stayer Defiantly narrow favourite in the latest all-in markets.

Click here to view the complete list of 2026 Lexus Melbourne Cup second acceptors.

2026 Melbourne Cup First Acceptances

Melbourne Cup first acceptances are the first round of declarations helping narrow down the original bumper crop of nominees for the classic ahead of the official Melbourne Cup final field of 24 being released on the Saturday before Melbourne Cup Day.

The 2026 Melbourne Cup first acceptances close on Tuesday September 29, 2026, at 12:00pm (local time) and can be viewed on our Melbourne Cup field page.

The Lexus Melbourne Cup 2026 first acceptances are now out leaving 71 remaining hopefuls including 13 internationals led by last year’s Spring Cups double hero Half Yours and Joseph O’Brien’s impressive Group 2 Prix Kergolay winning Irish raider Defiantly.

Click here to view the complete list of 2026 Lexus Melbourne Cup first acceptors.

2026 Melbourne Cup Nominations & Weights

The 2026 Melbourne Cup nominations closed on Tuesday September 1, 2026, at 12:00pm (local time). 

The 2026 Lexus Melbourne Cup nominations feature 101 horses (down from 120 last year) including 23 internationals (up from 19 last year) and featuring the defending champion Half Yours.

Click here to view the complete list of 2026 Lexus Melbourne Cup nominations.

Get a good look at the 2026 Melbourne Cup nominations, because the impressive amount of talent nominated for this year’s edition will surely make picking the winner a challenging task. Not long after, the Melbourne Cup weights are also released. First Declarations will be announced in early October. Second Declarations will occur in late October.

The final Melbourne Cup field will be declared on Victoria Derby Day.

Each year of Melbourne Cup nominations feature more international competitors than previous editions, the race being “internationalised” in 1993 when Dermot Weld won with Irish raider Vintage Crop.

The 2026 Melbourne Cup nominations and weights can also be viewed on the Melbourne Cup field page as soon as announced by Racing Victoria.

Melbourne Cup Barrier Draw

Barrier 8 is the latest Melbourne Cup winning barrier that Point Of Law jumped from in 2026. 

Barrier 8 also produced the 2025 champion Half Yours.

The 2026 Melbourne Cup Barrier Draw will take place on Victoria Derby Day after the racing action on the Saturday before the Melbourne Cup runs on the first Tuesday of November.

An interesting statistic that can impact betting is the 2026 Melbourne Cup barrier draw.

While theoretically the distance of the race should make the Melbourne Cup barrier draw meaningless to the overall result, there have historically been a few barriers that have done particularly well and barriers that have performed poorly.

Every year the Melbourne Cup barrier draw is conducted live from the home of the great race, Flemington Racecourse, which is Victoria’s premier racetrack.

The Melbourne Cup barrier draw is an event in itself with the connections of the 24 horses engaged in the Melbourne Cup field invited up to select a gate for their runner to jump from the following Tuesday afternoon.

Barrier 11 is historically the most successful Melbourne Cup barrier producing nine wins over the years.

Barrier 5 follows with eight winners including Knight’s Choice (2024).

Other barriers with good numbers producing six winners each are 10 and 14.

In 2021 Verry Elleegant became the first Melbourne Cup winner from Barrier 18 since the current starting system was introduced in 1925.

Most recently barrier five has been the best barrier producing back-to-back winners with Green Moon (2012) and Fiorente (2013) followed by Knight’s Choice (2024).

That said the wider gates have not been a total disadvantage either with the three runners before that jumping from double figure barriers with Without A Fight (16 in 2023), Vow And Declare (21 of 24 in 2019), Cross Counter (19 in 2018), Shocking (21 in 2009), Americain (11 in 2010), Dunaden (13 in 2011), and Protectionist (10 in 2014).

To find out all about how the barrier draw can affect your betting, be sure to read our Melbourne Cup barrier draw page.

Melbourne Cup Form Guide

Melbourne Cup 2026 Form Guide: Runner-by-Runner Analysis & Predictions

Melbourne Cup 2026 Horses Form: Two Words on Each Runner

The Melbourne Cup form guide is the master reference punters use to assess every runner in Australia’s most famous race. It brings together the key data points that matter in a gruelling 3200 metre staying test at Flemington — recent performances, distance credentials, weight, barriers, international form, and how each horse is likely to map. Because the Cup is a unique blend of stamina, timing, tempo and luck, the form guide helps punters cut through the noise and identify which runners are genuinely suited to the race.

What Punters Should Look for in the Melbourne Cup Form Guide:

• Staying credentials — The Cup is a true two-mile test, so look for horses proven at 2400m-3200m or those with strong late strength in high-pressure races.
• Weight and handicapping — The Melbourne Cup is a handicap, and the weight a horse carries can make or break its chances. Lightly weighted improvers and well-treated internationals often profile well.
• Lead-up form — Traditional pathways like the Caulfield Cup, Bart Cummings, Moonee Valley Gold Cup and international staying races (Ebor, Kergorlay, Irish St Leger) are strong indicators of Cup suitability.
• Flemington performance — Horses proven down the long Flemington straight or those who finish strongly at spacious tracks tend to be advantaged.
• Barrier draw — While not as critical as in shorter races, wide gates can force runners to work early, while inside draws can help midfield horses settle comfortably.
• Race tempo and map — Understanding where each horse is likely to settle is crucial. On-speed runners need to stay the trip; backmarkers need a genuine tempo and clear running lanes.
• International form lines — Overseas stayers often bring elite staying profiles. Punters should compare their ratings, sectionals and race conditions to Australian standards.
• Track conditions — Some Cup contenders excel on firm ground, while others improve dramatically on soft going.
• Trainer and jockey patterns — Cup winning stables and riders often target the race with precision, and their history in major staying races can be a key factor.

FULL 2026 MELBOURNE CUP FORM GUIDE

The Melbourne Cup form guide is a detailed run down of all the 24 horses making up that season’s Melbourne Cup field.

In the form guide for the Melbourne Cup 2026 punters will find all the must know information including: Melbourne Cup saddlecloth numbers, Melbourne Cup barriers, Melbourne Cup jockeys, Melbourne Cup trainers, lead-up form, weights, record at the track / distance as well as the winning percentages of all the Melbourne Cup horses.

Using the Melbourne Cup form guide and its facts / stats is the best way to predict the Melbourne Cup results.

For the best 2026 Melbourne Cup form guide check out Ladbrokes and see our dedicated Melbourne Cup form guide page.

Melbourne Cup History

Melbourne Cup history has been fascinating since the very first race in 1861, when Archer took the Melbourne Cup in a field of 17 horses. While Archer has the honour of being the first (and second) Melbourne Cup winner, he also retains the slowest time to date at 3:52.00. For years this was blamed on Archer travelling to the race by foot, but it has since been established that the legendary horse was transported by steam ship, so it appears the esteemed Melbourne Cup just wasn’t as competitive in the early days.

It didn’t take long for the Melbourne Cup to become one of the most popular races in Australia, and many of the race’s longest standing traditions began to form in the 1870s. For instance, the race began to be run on a Tuesday in 1875, and the first golden cup design of a Melbourne Cup trophy was used in 1876.

Throughout the early Melbourne Cup years, Etienne de Mestre was the most prominent trainer, with 5 of his horses winning from 1861 to 1878. However, he had a fierce rival in John Tait, who managed to train a Melbourne Cup winner 4 times in that same period.

The Melbourne Cup continued to grow throughout the late 1800s, and it was well established as the most important race in Australia by the time Mark Twain visited in 1895 and documented the unique character of the event. By this point, none could contest how central the Melbourne Cup had become to Australian culture – possibly the first Australian tradition that no one could deny.

More than a century later, with the 2010 Melbourne Cup marking the 150th running of the race, there have been many legendary horses that have contested the Cup. The most famous may be Phar Lap, who won in 1930, but other legends are Rain Lover, Think Big, Kingston Rule, Let’s Elope, Rogan Josh, and three-time winner Makybe Diva. Trainer Bart Cummings also belongs in any list of Melbourne Cup legends, as he has a dozen Melbourne Cup wins under his belt.

If you want to learn more about the legends of the Melbourne Cup, please visit our dedicated Melbourne Cup history section.

Melbourne Cup Facts and Statistics

In a race with as much history as the Melbourne Cup, you can bet that some fascinating records have been set. Here are some of the most interesting Melbourne Cup facts and statistics:

• Most Wins – Horse: Makybe Diva, 3 wins (2003, 2004, 2005)
• Most Wins – Jockey: Bobby Lewis, 4 wins (1902, 1915, 1919, 1927); Harry White, 4 wins (1974, 1975, 1978, 1979)
• Most Wins – Trainer: Bart Cummings, 12 wins (1965, 1966, 1967, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1990, 1991, 1996, 1999, 2008)

• Fastest Time: Kingston Rule, 3:16.30
• Slowest Time: Archer, 3:52.00

• Longest Odds Winners: The Pearl, Wotan and Old Rowley all at 100 to 1
• Shortest Odds to Win: Phar Lap at 8/11 (about $0.73 or so)
• First woman to train a winner: Sheila Laxon with Ethereal in 2001

For more, please visit our Melbourne Cup facts and statistics page.

Melbourne Cup Markets

Australia is a nation of punters, and that is no more apparent when it comes to 2026 Melbourne Cup markets. Whether you are a dedicated racing fanatic or not, having a bet on the Melbourne Cup field on the first Tuesday of November is an Aussie tradition.

Everyone is keen to get in on the Melbourne Cup betting action on the famous Flemington Race 7 and Melbourne Cup sweeps are hugely popular.

Melbourne Cup betting is open at bookmakers around the country including Ladbrokes pretty much all year round. Futures Melbourne Cup betting odds on possible runners to line-up in the Melbourne Cup barriers come race day offer generous all-in pricing, while waiting for the official field to be announced on Derby Day offers more secure Melbourne Cup betting markets.

Exotic Melbourne Cup bet types like the Melbourne Cup quinella, trifecta and first four also give punters more than just the Melbourne Cup winner to invest in each spring.

For a full guide on betting and exotic bets, please visit our extensive Melbourne Cup betting section.

Melbourne Cup Trifecta

The 2026 Melbourne Cup trifecta is one of the most popular Melbourne Cup betting markets and involves picking the first three over the line in correct order in the ‘race that stops a nation’.

Not only do you have to predict which horse will join the prestigious list of Melbourne Cup winners, but you also have to successfully tip which two stayers will finish second and third in the official Melbourne Cup finishing order. That’s why a Melbourne Cup Box Trifecta is a popular option because it means your three horses can finish in any order and you still win.

To learn more about picking and placing a winning trifecta or box trifecta, please visit our Melbourne Cup trifecta page.

Melbourne Cup Quinella

Of all the exotic Melbourne Cup betting options, the quinella is the simplest. In a Melbourne Cup quinella, you must choose the first two finishers of the race, but the order they finish in does not matter.

This flexibility can be very helpful when there are two strong favourites in the race, as a Melbourne Cup quinella saves you from having to decide between two great horses when the statistics suggest it is an even race.

To learn all about making a winning quinella, please visit our Melbourne Cup quinella page.

Melbourne Cup Exacta

The Melbourne Cup exacta is a bit harder than the quinella, as it requires you to choose the first two finishers in exact order. It may seem odd that this is a popular Melbourne Cup betting option given the flexibility of the quinella, but a winning Melbourne Cup exacta pays out significantly better than a quinella.

As with the other less flexible exotic Melbourne Cup bets, many punters place a box exacta to cover multiple combinations of the first two finishers. This allows you to get the flexibility of the quinella at a higher cost, but with the massive payout of a Melbourne Cup exacta.

For more on placing a winning exacta, please read our Melbourne Cup exacta page.

Melbourne Cup First Four

The ultimate Melbourne Cup betting challenge is to correctly pick the Melbourne Cup First Four, and boy can it pay well. In a Melbourne Cup First Four bet, you must choose the first four finishers in correct order. It goes without saying that most punters go with a boxed Melbourne Cup First Four if they take on the challenge at all.

While a Melbourne Cup First Four bet pays off just extravagantly in years when the favourite wins, it will pay life changing sums of money any time a couple of outside chances finish in front. Forget 100 to 1 payouts – a correctly chosen Melbourne Cup First Four bet can payout hundreds of thousands of dollars per dollar wagered!

To learn more about placing a First Four bet, visit our Melbourne Cup First Four page.

Melbourne Cup Results

The 2026 Melbourne Cup results will be known when the race runs on Tuesday November 3, 2026. 

Please see the Melbourne Cup Results page for all the past Melbourne Cup winners and place-getters in the two-mile classic.

More often than not a roughie chance in Melbourne Cup betting gets up to dominate the Melbourne Cup results, including in 2015 when Prince Of Penzance ($101) saluted at triple-figures.

One of the most incredible Melbourne Cup results in recent years happened in 2006 when two Japanese trained horses took the first two places. Trainer Sumii Katsuhiko had the pleasure of being the first Japanese trainer to produce a Melbourne Cup winner in Delta Blues and also picked up the quinella at the same time with his horse Pop Rock.

The closest of all Melbourne Cup results was in 2011 when the French raider Dunaden only just held off Red Cadeaux in a photo finish.

Melbourne Cup Fashion

Ever since the beginning of the race, Melbourne Cup fashion has been a major part of the festivities at Flemington. While the focus on fashion started with women, in recent years the male attendees have been getting into Melbourne Cup fashion as well. To savvy up on the latest fashions, be sure to check out our Melbourne Cup fashion section.

Melbourne Cup Hats

One of the unique aspects of 2026 Melbourne Cup fashion is the focus on hats. Melbourne Cup hats tend to be a bit more flamboyant than day-to-day headwear, and the real stylistas have their Melbourne Cup hats custom made to really make a statement. To learn more about getting your own unique hat, please visit our Melbourne Cup hats page.

Melbourne Cup Fascinators

The most authentic Melbourne Cup fashion statement you can make is to wear a fascinator, as Melbourne Cup fascinators are one of the most striking features of the fashion scene at the Flemington Spring Carnival. You’ll want to visit a professional milliner for fascinators that really stand out, so check out our Melbourne Cup fascinators page for suggestions.

Women’s Race Wear

Women’s race wear at the Melbourne Cup changes every year, and it pays to read up on the latest fashions before putting an outfit together. From the dress to the shoes to the hat or fascinator, our women’s race wear page tells you all you need to know to make a splash at the 2026 Melbourne Cup.

Men’s Race Wear

Men’s race wear at the Melbourne Cup is a bit more timeless, but it is important to wear the right style and get your suit fitted properly. For tons of tips on men’s fashion for the Melbourne Cup, read our men’s race wear page.

Melbourne Cup Birdcage

The Melbourne Cup birdcage is the premium marquee area, where socialites and business leaders rub elbows while wearing the very best Melbourne Cup fashion. To learn more about the Melbourne Cup birdcage (and how you can get in) be sure to check out our dedicated page on the Melbourne Cup birdcage.

Melbourne Cup Design Award

Possibly the most important part of the Fashions on the Field events is the presentation of the Melbourne Cup Design Award. Celebrating the achievements of Australia’s top race wear designers, you can learn more about the Melbourne Cup Design Award on our info page.

Flemington Spring Fashion Lunch

The Flemington Spring Fashion Lunch is a major showcase of Melbourne Cup fashions, with people around Australia holding their own fashion functions when they cannot make it to Flemington or a local racecourse. To learn more about it, visit our Flemington Spring Fashion Lunch page.

Melbourne Cup Lunches & Events

Aside from the celebrations at Flemington, many Melbourne Cup lunches and events are held around the country on Cup day. The biggest events are held at racecourses and Turf Clubs around Australia, but most people just have a catered lunch at work or turn up to the pub to watch the race. For more information on organising fun events, please visit our Melbourne Cup lunches and events page.

Hotels in Melbourne

Aside from providing accommodation, many hotels in Melbourne also offer special events to entertain visitors to Melbourne. Visit our dedicated page on hotels in Melbourne to find out about special packages for staying near Flemington during the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

Melbourne Cup Restaurants

If you are in Melbourne and looking for a good restaurant to celebrate your Melbourne Cup winnings at, then check out our guide to Melbourne Cup restaurants! Covering many different kinds of cuisine, our guide will see you eating in style.

Melbourne Cup Tickets

It can be a bit tricky getting Melbourne Cup tickets, as the general admissions tend to sell out quickly once released. They also have conditions that you may not be aware of prior to purchase, as Flemington tends to keep ticketing for businesses restricted to marquees while general admissions are reserved for the public.

While getting Melbourne Cup tickets can sometimes seem like more of a challenge than picking the Melbourne Cup trifecta, it is easy enough if you simply know how the ticketing system works and which ticket types are restricted to VRC members. Please visit our Melbourne Cup tickets page to find out more!

Whatever you want to know about the Melbourne Cup and Melbourne Cup betting, you will be sure to find the information you need in one of our many Melbourne Cup pages. If you are simply looking for a place to bet on the Melbourne Cup, we recommend starting with Ladbrokes.

Melbourne Cup FAQs