TAB Melbourne Cup Facts & Figures
Prizemoney:
$630,000, plus trophy and rug
(1st: $435,000, 2nd: $130,000, 3rd: $65,000)
First Run:
1956
Race Record:
29.169, Dyna Double One (2015) out of box 2
Battle of the Sexes:
Dogs 53, Bitches 11
Punter’s Paradise:
Favourites have won on 26 occasions, though just three have won since 2004
The long and short:
Gold Grotto 1/2 (1972)
Classic Capri $25.90 (2001)
Biggest margin:
9 lengths (Fox Hunt, 1991)
Smallest margin:
Half head (Whiskey Riot, 2019)
Neck (Chief Ranee 1960, Chris’ Dandy 1970, Black Aztec 1980, City Blitz 1995)
Just for the record:
Hua (1988) set a new track record of 30.01 over 511m
Going the distance:
1956-63 565 yards
1964-71 555 yards
1972 507.5m
1973-85 513m
1986-95 511m
1996- 515m
State of affairs:
49 Victoria
12 New South Wales
2 Queensland
1 South Australia
Out of the Box:
Box |
Winners |
Last |
1 |
17 |
2018 (My Redeemer) |
2 |
9 |
2015 (Dyna Double One) |
3 |
8 |
2019 (Whiskey Riot) |
4 |
6 |
2006 (Betty’s Angel) |
5 |
5 |
2016 (Ando’s Mac) |
6 |
4 |
2007 (Shanlyn Prince) |
7 |
8 |
2011 (Dyna Tron) |
8 |
7 |
2014 (Dyna Villa) |
Prize money growth (first prize):
1956 |
500Pd |
1964 |
$1000 |
1971 |
$8000 |
1975 |
$11,500 |
1978 |
$35,000 |
1990 |
$40,000 |
1991 |
$50,000 |
1994 |
$55,000 |
1995 |
$80,000 |
1996 |
$100,000 |
2002 |
$140,000 |
2005 |
$150,000 |
2008 |
$175,000 |
2011 |
$200,000 |
2012 |
$350,000 |
2014 |
$420,000 |
2018 |
$435,000 |
Did you know?:
Legendary stud dog Chariot Supreme sired the trifecta in 1990 – Highly Blessed, Singalong, Black Pirate
Another stud great, New Tears – himself a finalist in 1987 (fell) – sired the trifecta in 1994: Light of Fire, Zippity Magic, New Fox
Three greyhounds have sired three Melbourne Cup winners – Rocket Jet (1956, 1958, 1959), New Tears (1994, 1996, 1997) and Collision (2011, 2012, 2014)
Since 1986, just five dogs aged 3 years and over have won the Cup. The oldest was Rapid Journey at 3 years, 5 months and 27 days. Just two dogs have won the Cup in that time before their second birthday, the youngest being Kantarn Bale at 1 year, 9 months and 3 days
Since the new track surface and starting boxes were installed in 2010, five of the last 10 winners were the fastest qualifiers