Melbourne Cup Betting

When Aussies speak of “The Cup” they are undoubtedly referring to the annual Melbourne Cup. Dubbed the “race that stops a nation”, it is the world’s richest and most prestigious horse race that is the focal point of the Victorian Spring Racing Carnival.

Originally ran over 2 miles, it is now raced over 3,200 meters due to Australia adopting the metric system in 1972. Each year it is held at 3pm on the first Tuesday in November.

Full 2011 Melbourne Cup Results

1. Dunaden
2. Red Cadeaux
3. Lucas Cranach
4. Americain
5. Manighar
6. Lost In The Moment
7. Fox Hunt
8. Niwot
9. Unusual Suspect
10. At First Sight
11. Precedence
12. Drunken Sailor
13. The Verminator
14. Tullamore
15. Moyenne Corniche
16. Saptapadi
17. Older Than Time
18. Hawk Island
19. Illo
20. Jukebox Jury
21. Shamrocker
22. Glass Harmonium
23. Modun

DNF – Mourayan (scratched).

Tips for Betting on the Cup

• Bet on horses who have proven their ability to race over long distances.
• Statistically, 4 and 5 year olds have the highest chance of winning.
• Look at the age of the horses, not many horses 7 years or older win.
• Watch the weather and note which horses like the forecasted conditions.
• Don’t discount any horse, the favourite only wins the Cup roughly 20% of the time.
• Multiples pay extremely well, picking the Trifecta can be very rewarding.
• Try and find out as much information as possible on foreign horses, taking note of their ability to race over 3,000 meters.
• Weight plays a big part in long races, often outsiders with a light weight have a big advantage over the top weighted horses.
• Watch the other distance races leading up to the Cup, especially the Caulfield Cup, Mackinnon Stakes, Cox Plate and Geelong Cup to see how the Cup horses finish off the race.

FAQ

When is the Melbourne Cup?
The Melbourne Cup is run on the first Tuesday in November. This year, that falls on Tuesday the 1st of November, 2011.
What time is the Melbourne Cup race?
The 2011 Melbourne Cup will race at 3pm AEST
Was the Melbourne Cup always held on a Tuesday?
No, prior to 1875, it was held on a Thursday.
What year was the first year of the Melbourne Cup?
1861
Who won the very first Melbourne Cup?
Archer
What year did Phar Lap win the Cup?
1930

Melbourne Cup Trivia

• The largest field had 39 starters in 1890.
• The smallest field had just 7 starters in 1863.
• Not a single horse has won the race from barrier number 18.
• The prize money for the first Cup in 1861 was 1,420 Pounds.
• The shortest priced favourite to win was Phar Lap, paying 8/11.
• Makybe Diva is the only horse to win the Melbourne Cup 3 times.
• Legendary trainer Bart Cummings has the record of training the most winners, which is currently 12.
• Bobbie Lewis and Harry White are the only two jockeys who have ridden the winner of the Cup 4 times.
• Clare Lindop was the first Australian female to ride in the Cup in 2003, she rode Debben who did not place.
• Sheila Laxon was the first woman trainer to officially win the Melbourne Cup with Ethereal in 2001.
• The prize money reached $1,000,000 AUD for the very first time in 1985.
• The highest paying trifecta on the Melbourne Cup was $61,867.90 in 1993.

Videos of Recent Melbourne Cup Winners

2011 Winner – Dunaden

1st – Dunaden
2nd – Red Cadeaux
3rd – Lucas Cranach
4th – Americain

Last – Modun

We haven’t seen a finish this close since Viewed and Bauer crossed the line neck and neck in 2008. Dunaden and Red Cadeaux hit the line together but Dunaden won by a nose in a heart stopping finish to the 151st Melbourne Cup that won’t be forgotten for some time.

Dunaden won the Geelong Cup in preparation for the Cup just like last years winner, Americain who started the race as $4.50 favourite and finished respectively in 4th position.

2010 Winner – Americain

1st – Americain
2nd – Maluckyday
3rd – So You Think
4th – Zipping

Last – Zavite
DNF – Descarado

European trained Americain settled at the back of the field, out from the rail but this put him in a good position to make his run for the finish.

Gerald Mosse’s timing was perfect, coming out wide on the final turn, the light weight (54.5 kg’s) helped him bolt away in the final straight to win the race easily in the end by 2-3/4 lengths.

Bottom weight (51 kg’s) Maluckyday came 2nd with a strong finish Favourite So You Think came in 3rd positoin, while Zipping finished 4th for the third time.

2009 Winner- Shocking

1st – Shocking
2nd – Crime Scene
3rd – Mourilyan
4th – Master O’Reilly

Last – Warringah

Shocking and Crime Scene burst into the lead on the turn, Crime Scene battled on courageously but Shocking was simply too good.

This was another great finish to the Melbourne Cup that had many Australian’s celebrating Shocking’s marvellous win.

2008 Winner – Viewed

1st – Viewed
2nd – Bauer
3rd – C’est La Guerre
4th – Master O’Reilly

Last – Honalulu
DNF – Gaollopin

Viewed hit his straps and shot away from the field on the final straight and narrowly defeated a strong finishing Bauer, who would have won if the race was still ran over 2 miles.

This was one of the most exciting finishes in recent history, giving trainer Bart Cummings his 12th Melbourne Cup winner from 50 years of training, 7 more than anyone else in history.

Details and statistics of the winners since 1990

History and More Information

All around the country, people stop what they’re doing to tune in to “The Cup”, which now attracts the very best stayers from Australia and around the world, racing to win their share of more than $6 million Australian dollars, as well as the physical cup itsel. People don’t just go for the racing, celebrities from all around the world come to see one of Australia’s most famous events first-hand, it truly is a spectacle. If this race doesn’t get your heart pumping and adrenaline flowing when these champion thoroughbreds make the turn for the final stretch, horse racing simply isn’t for you!

It is estimated that over 80% of adults in Australia have a bet in some form or another (via the TOTE, a bookmaker, an online betting site or an office “sweep”, also known as sweepstakes, between themselves or other means) on the Cup. Due to the enormous crowds and other difficulties associated with placing a bet on Cup Day, online betting is growing larger each year.

Latest Melbourne Cup News