The Melbourne Cup is one of the world’s most prestigious horse racing events, held annually on the first Tuesday of November in Melbourne, Australia. The race has a long and rich history stretching back to 1861, when the first Melbourne Cup was run. It is a highly anticipated event on the Australian racing calendar, and attracts thousands of spectators to Flemington Racecourse each year. This year, the Melbourne Cup was held on 2nd November 2021, and 24 horses ran in the race.
History of the Melbourne Cup
The Melbourne Cup has been a major event in the Australian racing calendar for over 150 years. It is the richest “two-mile” handicap in the world, and is widely considered to be the most famous horse race in the Southern Hemisphere. It is also the richest “two-mile” handicap in the world, with a total prize pool of $8 million.
The first Melbourne Cup was run in 1861, with the winner being Archer, a four-year-old chestnut gelding. The race has since become a major event on the Australian racing calendar, and is now held annually on the first Tuesday of November. The race is run on Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, and attracts thousands of spectators each year.
The Horses of the 2021 Melbourne Cup
The 2021 Melbourne Cup saw a total of 24 horses take to the track, all vying for the prestigious prize of $8 million. The horses represented a wide range of ages and breeds, from the three-year-old filly Master Of Reality, to the seven-year-old gelding Prince Of Arran.
The following is a list of the 24 horses that took part in the 2021 Melbourne Cup:
- Master Of Reality
- Prince Of Arran
- Vow And Declare
- Tiger Moth
- Surprise Baby
- Steel Prince
- Twilight Payment
- Finche
- Mustajeer
- Island King
- Dalasan
- Eclair Surprise
- Miami Bound
- True Self
- Verry Elleegant
- Avilius
- Strategy
- Young Rascal
- Hickok
- Russian Camelot
- Prince Albert
- Shared Ambition
- Sir Dragonet
- Ashrun
Favourites for the 2021 Melbourne Cup
The 2021 Melbourne Cup saw a number of favourites vying for the win. The favourite going into the race was the four-year-old gelding Tiger Moth, who was trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by jockey Ryan Moore. The other favourites included the three-year-old filly Master Of Reality, the five-year-old gelding Steel Prince, and the seven-year-old gelding Prince Of Arran.
The Winner of the 2021 Melbourne Cup
The winner of the 2021 Melbourne Cup was the four-year-old gelding Tiger Moth, ridden by jockey Ryan Moore and trained by Aidan O’Brien. Tiger Moth won the race in a time of 3 minutes and 24.84 seconds, beating the second place finisher, the five-year-old gelding Steel Prince, by just over a length.
Reaction to Tiger Moth’s Win
The win by Tiger Moth was met with great joy and excitement by the crowd at Flemington Racecourse. The horse had been the favourite going into the race, and his win was seen as a great success by his connections. His jockey, Ryan Moore, was praised for his ride, while his trainer, Aidan O’Brien, was lauded for his training abilities.
The Prize Money
The winner of the 2021 Melbourne Cup was awarded a total of $4.4 million in prize money. This included $2.4 million for first place, $600,000 for second place, and $300,000 for third place. The remaining prize money was split among the other horses that finished in the top ten.
Other Races at the 2021 Melbourne Cup
As well as the Melbourne Cup, there were a number of other races held at Flemington Racecourse on the same day. These included the Group 1 Seppelt Wines Stakes, the Group 1 Kennedy Mile, the Group 2 Schweppes Flemington Fling, and the Group 3 Lexus Stakes.
The Future of the Melbourne Cup
The Melbourne Cup is one of the world’s most prestigious and iconic horse racing events, and it is sure to remain a major event on the Australian racing calendar for many years to come. Each year, thousands of spectators flock to Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne to witness the spectacle of the race, and it is sure to continue to attract large crowds in the future.
Conclusion
The 2021 Melbourne Cup was held on 2nd November 2021, and a total of 24 horses ran in the race. The favourite going into the race was the four-year-old gelding Tiger Moth, who was trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by jockey Ryan Moore. Tiger Moth went on to win the race, beating the second place finisher, the five-year-old gelding Steel Prince, by just over a length. The win was met with great joy and excitement by the crowd, and the horse was awarded a total of $4.4 million in prize money. The Melbourne Cup is one of the world’s most iconic horse racing events, and it is sure to remain a major event on the Australian racing calendar for many years to come.