The Melbourne Cup is a prestigious horse racing event held annually in Melbourne, Australia. It is the richest two-mile handicap in the world, with a purse of AU$7.3 million. It is a major event on the Australian racing calendar and is the most popular sporting event in the country. The Melbourne Cup is a 3200-metre race for horses aged three years and over. It is run at Flemington Racecourse on the first Tuesday of November each year, and is the most prestigious event on the Australian racing calendar.
History of the Melbourne Cup
The first running of the Melbourne Cup was held in 1861, and it has been held annually ever since. It was originally run over two miles but was reduced to 3200 metres in 1972. The race has been held at Flemington Racecourse since 1875, and it is the longest continuously-running race in Australia. The record for the fastest winning time is held by the racehorse Makybe Diva, who won the race in 3 minutes and 17.17 seconds in 2003.
Prize Money for the Melbourne Cup
The prize money for the Melbourne Cup has increased steadily over the years since its inception in 1861. In 2020, the total prize money for the race was AU$7.3 million. The first prize for the winner is AU$4 million, with second, third and fourth place receiving AU$1 million, AU$500,000 and AU$250,000 respectively.
What Did Last Year’s Melbourne Cup First 4 Pay?
The 2020 Melbourne Cup was held on Tuesday the 3rd of November at Flemington Racecourse. The race was won by the Irish-trained horse, Tiger Moth, ridden by jockey Hugh Bowman. The first four finishers in the race were as follows:
- First: Tiger Moth ($4 million)
- Second: Prince of Arran ($1 million)
- Third: Anthony Van Dyck ($500,000)
- Fourth: Surprise Baby ($250,000)
Record Prize Money for the Melbourne Cup
The 2020 Melbourne Cup saw a record amount of prize money awarded to the first four finishers. The total purse for the race was AU$7.3 million, with the winner, Tiger Moth, taking home AU$4 million and the remaining three horses sharing the remaining AU$3.3 million. This is the highest prize money ever awarded in the history of the race, surpassing the previous record of AU$7 million which was set in 2018.
The Winners of Last Year’s Melbourne Cup
Tiger Moth was the winner of the 2020 Melbourne Cup, ridden by jockey Hugh Bowman. The horse is trained by Irish trainer, Aidan O’Brien, and is owned by Lloyd Williams. It was the second Melbourne Cup win for Bowman, who previously won the race in 2013 aboard Fiorente.
Prince of Arran, trained by Charlie Fellowes, was the runner-up in the 2020 Melbourne Cup, finishing second behind Tiger Moth. The horse is owned by Australian businessman, John Ingham, and was ridden by jockey Michael Walker.
Anthony Van Dyck, trained by Aidan O’Brien, finished third in the 2020 Melbourne Cup, and was ridden by jockey William Buick. The horse is owned by Mrs S. Magnier and Mr M. Tabor.
The fourth-placed horse in the 2020 Melbourne Cup was Surprise Baby, trained by New Zealand trainer, Paul Preusker. The horse is owned by Australian businessman, David Archer, and was ridden by jockey Dean Yendall.
The Impact of the Melbourne Cup on the Racing Industry
The Melbourne Cup is a major event on the Australian racing calendar, and it has a significant impact on the industry as a whole. It is the most widely-watched and bet-on race in the country, and it is estimated that Australians bet over AU$400 million on the race each year. The event also has a significant impact on the economy of Victoria, with the race generating an estimated AU$400 million in additional economic activity for the state.
The Melbourne Cup Carnival
The Melbourne Cup Carnival is a four-day event held at Flemington Racecourse during the first week of November each year. The carnival includes four major race days, with the Melbourne Cup being the main event. Other races held at the carnival include the Victoria Derby, the Crown Oaks and the Emirates Stakes. The carnival also includes a variety of entertainment, food and beverage options, and fashion events.
The Controversy Surrounding the Melbourne Cup
The Melbourne Cup has been the subject of controversy in recent years due to the large number of horses that are put down after the race. In 2020, there were four horses that died as a result of racing at the Melbourne Cup, raising questions about the welfare of racehorses in Australia. There have also been concerns raised about the use of whip by jockeys during the race, with some calling for stricter regulations on the use of the whip in horse racing.
Conclusion
The Melbourne Cup is one of the most prestigious horse racing events in the world, and it has a significant impact on the Australian racing industry. Last year’s Melbourne Cup was won by Tiger Moth, with Prince of Arran, Anthony Van Dyck and Surprise Baby finishing in the top four. The total prize money for the race was AU$7.3 million, with the first four finishers receiving AU$4 million, AU$1 million, AU$500,000 and AU$250,000 respectively. The Melbourne Cup has been the subject of controversy in recent years due to the large number of horses that are put down after the race, and the use of whip by jockeys during the race.