Legendary horses, history-making riders and 100-1 surprises: how the Melbourne Cup became Australia’s most famous race
THERE are few occasions when work can wait, lunch gets a little extra sparkle, and someone from accounts suddenly becomes the office racing expert, but the Melbourne Cup has a habit of bringing all three together.
Every first Tuesday in November, the hats come out, the sweeps circulate and Australians gather around televisions to discover whether the horse they selected through careful research – or because they liked its name or the colours it carries – can deliver the goods.
THE THURSDAY THAT STARTED IT ALL
FOR a race so closely associated with the first Tuesday in November, the Melbourne Cup made its debut on a Thursday.
About 4000 spectators gathered at Flemington on November 7, 1861, to watch 17 horses contest the inaugural Melbourne Cup, with Archer claiming victory for trainer Etienne de Mestre. He returned the following year to win again, establishing the race’s first champion before the familiar Tuesday tradition began in 1875.
HALF YOURS, ALL GLORY
The 2025 Melbourne Cup belonged to Half Yours, who delivered a commanding victory with Jamie Melham aboard for father-and-son trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy.
Starting at $9, Half Yours finished ahead of Goodie Too Shoes, with Middle Earth third, completing the Caulfield Cup–Melbourne Cup double and becoming the 13th horse to achieve that celebrated feat.
The result also secured Melham a significant place in the record books, becoming the second female jockey to salute in the feature, exactly a decade after Michelle Payne became the first woman to do so aboard Prince of Penzance.
A DIVA, A KING AND THE RECORD HOLDERS
When it comes to winning the Melbourne Cup, Makybe Diva stands alone with three consecutive victories in 2003, 2004 and 2005, ridden each time by Glen Boss.
Archer, Peter Pan, Rain Lover and Think Big each won twice, but the mighty mare went one better, delivering a three-peat that remains unmatched.
Among trainers, Bart Cummings earned his Cups King title with a record 12 victories, beginning with Light Fingers in 1965 and finishing with Viewed in 2008.
The riding record belongs jointly to Bobby Lewis and Harry White, who each won four Melbourne Cups.
FAST FINISHES AND LONGSHOT HEROES
The Cup might stop the nation, but Kingston Rule certainly did not waste any time winning it in 1990, setting the race record of 3 minutes 16.3 seconds.
For those who love an outsider, Prince of Penzance’s 2015 win remains a favourite Cup tale. At 100-1, he joined The Pearl, Wotan and Old Rowley as the race’s longest-priced winners, giving lucky punters a story they are unlikely to stop telling.
Carbine’s achievement in 1890 was remarkable for a different reason: he carried 65.77kg to victory, still the heaviest winning weight.
THE OTHER RACE-DAY COMPETITION
While the horses command attention on the track, the outfits have enjoyed their own competitive stage since Flemington introduced Fashions on the Field in 1962.
The crowds have produced impressive numbers of their own, with 122,736 people attending Melbourne Cup Day in 2003 to see Makybe Diva’s first of three victories.
From Archer to Half Yours, the Melbourne Cup has given Australians champions to celebrate and longshots to cheer, and every November brings another chance to add to that history, whether you’re studying the form at Flemington or clutching an office sweep ticket and hoping your horse can get the job done.
