| Group I race | |
|---|---|
| Melbourne Cup | |
 Engraving of the finish line at the 1881 Cup |
|
| Location | Flemington Racecourse Melbourne, Australia |
| Inaugurated | 1861 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
| Website | Flemington Racecourse |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 3200 metres (1. Flemington Racecourse is a major Horse racing venue located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Melbourne ( is the second most populous city in Australia, with a Metropolitan area population of approximately 3 For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. The Thoroughbred is a horse breed Flat racing is a term commonly used to denote a form of Horse racing which is run over a level track at a predetermined distance 988 miles) |
| Track | Turf, left-handed |
| Qualification | Three-year-olds and up |
| Weight | Handicap |
| Purse | AUD$5 million (about USD$4. The Australian dollar ( sign: $; code: AUD) is the Currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been 4 million) |
| Bonuses | AUD$500,000 bonus to the owner for any horse that can win the Melbourne Cup and the Irish St. Leger at Curragh Racecourse in Ireland in the same year. The Irish St Leger is a Group 1 flat horse race in the Republic of Ireland open to Thoroughbreds which are three-years-old or above History The name "Curragh" comes from the Irish (Gaeilge word Cuirreach, meaning "racecourse" Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world |
The Melbourne Cup is Australia's major annual thoroughbred horse race. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Thoroughbred horse racing is a worldwide Sport and Industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred Horses It is governed by different national Billed as The race that stops a nation, it is for three-year-olds and over, and covers a distance of 3,200 metres. It is generally regarded as the most prestigious "two-mile" handicap in the world. The event is held on the first Tuesday in November by the Victoria Racing Club, on the Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne. History The Victoria Racing Club was founded in 1864 It was formed following the disbanding of the Victoria Turf Club and the Victoria Jockey Club Flemington Racecourse is a major Horse racing venue located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Melbourne ( is the second most populous city in Australia, with a Metropolitan area population of approximately 3 This day was traditionally only a public holiday within metropolitan Melbourne, but is now also observed as a holiday in the ACT[1]. Melbourne ( is the second most populous city in Australia, with a Metropolitan area population of approximately 3 } The Australian Capital Territory (ACT is the Capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and its smallest self-governing internal territory
The race was originally held over two miles (about 3,218 metres) but following preparation for Australia's adoption of the metric system in the 1970s, the current race distance of 3,200 metres was established in 1972. From the early 1960s until 1988 Australia ran a Metrication programme withdrawing Imperial units of measurement from general legal use This reduced the distance by 61ft 6in, and Rain Lover's 1968 race record of 3min. Rain Lover (1964-1989 was a Champion Australian Thoroughbred racehorse. 19. 1sec was accordingly adjusted to 3min. 17. 9sec. The present record holder is the 1990 winner Kingston Rule with a time of 3min 16. Kingston Rule was an American -bred Racehorse who raced in Australia where he won the 1990 Melbourne Cup in a record time of 3163 3sec.
The 2007 winner was Efficient, ridden by Michael Rodd, trained by Graeme Rogerson and owned by Lloyd Williams. Efficient (foaled 2003 is an Australian grey Thoroughbred Gelding racehorse bred in New Zealand, who won the 2007 Melbourne Cup, Efficient became the first horse since Phar Lap to win the Victoria Derby, then the Melbourne Cup the following year. For the Computer software, see Phar Lap (company. Phar Lap, a giant chestnut Thoroughbred Gelding, is considered
Contents |
History
Seventeen horses contested the first Melbourne Cup in 1861, racing for £170 cash and a gold watch. The Pound Sterling ( symbol £; ISO code: GBP) subdivided into 100 pence (singular penny) is the Currency It has been said that the winner, Archer, walked 800km to the course from Nowra, New South Wales, but it is possible he travelled by ship. Archer (foaled 1856 was an Australian Thoroughbred racehorse who won the first two Melbourne Cups in 1861 and 1862. Nowra is a city in the South Coast region of New South Wales, Australia. A crowd of 4,000 watched the race, although it has been suggested this was less than expected because of news reaching Melbourne of the death of explorers Burke and Wills. In 1860-61 Robert O'Hara Burke and William John Wills led an expedition of 19 men with the intention of crossing Australia from Melbourne in the south to
Archer won again the following year, but because owner Etienne de Mestre's nomination form arrived late the next year, Archer was unable to contest a third cup. Many sympathetic owners boycotted the race which started with only seven horses, the smallest number in the history of the Cup. Archer's jockey was an Aboriginal named J. Cutts.
On 7 November 1876 the running of the Melbourne Cup on the first Tuesday in November commenced with the three-year-old filly, Briseis, creating a record that is never likely to be equalled, winning the VRC Derby, the Melbourne Cup and the VRC Oaks in the space of six days. She was ridden in the Cup by thirteen year old Peter St Albans
The first Tuesday in November, Melbourne Cup Day, was officially gazetted a full public holiday in 1877.
Phar Lap, the most famous horse in the world of his day, won the 1930 Melbourne Cup. For the Computer software, see Phar Lap (company. Phar Lap, a giant chestnut Thoroughbred Gelding, is considered He also competed in 1929 and 1931, but came 3rd and 8th respectively.
The first Aboriginal jockey to win the Melbourne Cup was not Frank Reys who rode Gala Supreme to victory in 1973, it was J. Indigenous Australians are descendants of the first known human inhabitants of the Australian continent and its nearby islands. Cutts who won the first and second Melbourne Cups riding Archer in 1861 and 1862. The second Aboriginal jockey to win was Peter St. Albans riding Briseis in 1876.
Recent years
The race has undergone several alterations over the past 10 years, the most visible being the arrival of many foreign-trained horses to contest the race in the last decade (notwithstanding the many winners from New Zealand including the famous Phar Lap). New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island For the Computer software, see Phar Lap (company. Phar Lap, a giant chestnut Thoroughbred Gelding, is considered Most have failed to cope with the conditions; the three successful "foreign raids" include two by Irish trainer Dermot K. Weld successful in 1993 and 2002, and one in 2006 by Katsumi Yoshida of Japan's renowned Yoshida racing and breeding family. Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world Dermot K Weld (born July 29, 1948) is one of Ireland 's most successful racehorse trainers He holds the record for the most winners trained in For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. The attraction for foreigners to compete was, primarily, the low-profile change to the new "quality handicap" weighting system.
The 1910 Melbourne Cup was won by Comedy King, the first foreign bred horse to do so. Subsequent foreign bred horses to win Cup were Backwood 1924; Belldale Ball 1980; At Talaq 1986; Kingston Rule 1990; Vintage Crop 1993; Jeune 1994; Media Puzzle 2002; Makybe Diva 2003, 2004, 2005
The 1938 Melbourne Cup was won by trainer Mrs. In Horse racing, a trainer is responsible for preparing a horse for races Allan McDonald who conditioned Catalogue. However, at the time women were not allowed to compete and as such her husband's name was officially recorded as the winning trainer. The 2001 edition was won by New Zealand mare Ethereal, trained by Sheila Laxon, the first woman to formally train a Melbourne Cup winner. This is the finishing order of horses which ran in the 2001 Melbourne Cup. Ethereal (foaled 1997 in New Zealand) is a Thoroughbred mare racehorse. Sheila Laxon (born in Pontypridd, Glamorgan, Wales) was the first female Thoroughbred Horse trainer to win the Australian She also won the Caulfield Cup, a 2,400 metre race also held in Melbourne, and therefore has won the "Cups Double". The Caulfield Cup, one of Australia's richest Thoroughbred horse races and the richest of its type in the world (2400 metre or metric mile-and-a-half handicap
In 2004 Makybe Diva became the first mare to win two cups, and also the first horse to win with different trainers, after David Hall moved to Hong Kong and transferred her to the Lee Freedman stables. Glen Boss (born 21 August 1969 in Caboolture) is an Australian Jockey, considered a champion who is best known for riding Makybe Diva Makybe Diva is an Australian racehorse, and the first Thoroughbred to win the prestigious Melbourne Cup three times in 2003 and 2004 and again in 2005 The 2005 Melbourne Cup was held on Tuesday November 1 2005. It was won by Makybe Diva for the third time in a row the first time this has happened in Makybe Diva is an Australian racehorse, and the first Thoroughbred to win the prestigious Melbourne Cup three times in 2003 and 2004 and again in 2005 David Hall may refer to David Hall (Australian politician (1874–1945 David Hall (video artist David Hall (athlete Hong Kong ( officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is a territory located on China 's south coast on the Pearl River Delta, and borders David Lee Freedman (born August 12, 1956) is a prominent Australian racehorse trainer
The 2005 Melbourne Cup was held before a crowd of 106,479. The 2005 Melbourne Cup was held on Tuesday November 1 2005. It was won by Makybe Diva for the third time in a row the first time this has happened in Makybe Diva made history by becoming the only horse to win the race three times. Trainer Lee Freedman said after the race, "Go and find the youngest child on the course, because that's the only person here who will have a chance of seeing this happen again in their lifetime. David Lee Freedman (born August 12, 1956) is a prominent Australian racehorse trainer "
The 2006 Melbourne Cup was won by the Japanese horse, Delta Blues. The 2006 Melbourne Cup was held on Tuesday November 7 2006, in Melbourne, Australia. Delta Blues (デルタブルース May 3, 2001 -) is a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 2006 Melbourne Delta Blues won by a nose over a second Japanese horse, Pop Rock. ( March 19, 2001 -) is a Japanese racehorse trained by Katsuhiko Sumii. The major sponsor for the 2006 Melbourne Cup was Emirates Airline. The 2006 Melbourne Cup was held on Tuesday November 7 2006, in Melbourne, Australia. Emirates Airline (shortened form Emirates) ( Arabic: طيران الإمارات Tayarān al-Imārāt) is a subsidiary of The Emirates Group
Due to the 2007 Australian Equine influenza outbreak, believed to have been started by a horse brought into Australia from Japan, neither Delta Blues nor Pop Rock participated in the 2007 Melbourne Cup. An outbreak of Equine influenza (EI in Australia was confirmed by the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries on 24 August 2007 in Delta Blues (デルタブルース May 3, 2001 -) is a Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 2006 Melbourne ( March 19, 2001 -) is a Japanese racehorse trained by Katsuhiko Sumii. The 2007 Melbourne Cup, the 147th running of Australia's most prestigious Thoroughbred horse race was run on Tuesday November 6 2007, going at 300 PM Both horses are stabled in Japan. Corowa, NSW trained " Leica Falcon " will also not be permitted to race in Victoria, despite being close to the Victorian border . Leica Falcon was ordained as the new staying star of Australian racing in 2005 when he ran fourth in both the Caulfield Cup and in Makybe Diva's famous third Melbourne Cup victory. But serious leg injuries saw the horse not race for another 20 months. [2]
Results and records
Most wins:
- 3 - Makybe Diva (2003, 2004, 2005)
- 2 - Archer (1861, 1862)
- 2 - Peter Pan (1932, 1934)
- 2 - Rain Lover (1968, 1969)
- 2 - Think Big (1974, 1975)
Most wins by an owner:
- 4 - Etienne L. This is a list of the winners of the Melbourne Cup, a Thoroughbred horse race at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia. Makybe Diva is an Australian racehorse, and the first Thoroughbred to win the prestigious Melbourne Cup three times in 2003 and 2004 and again in 2005 Archer (foaled 1856 was an Australian Thoroughbred racehorse who won the first two Melbourne Cups in 1861 and 1862. Peter Pan was an Australian thoroughbred horse by Pantheon (GB out of Alwina by St Alwyne (GB Rain Lover (1964-1989 was a Champion Australian Thoroughbred racehorse. Think Big (foaled 1970 in New Zealand) is a Thoroughbred Racehorse who raced in Australia, winning the Melbourne Cup in both 1974 de Mestre (1861, 1862, 1867, 1878)
- 4 - John Tait (1866, 1868, 1871, 1872)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 4 - Bobby Lewis (1902, 1915, 1919, 1927)
- 4 - Harry White (1974, 1975, 1978, 1979)
Most wins by a trainer:
- 11 - Bart Cummings (1965, 1966, 1967, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1990, 1991, 1996, 1999)
- 5 - Etienne L. In Sport, a jockey is one who rides Horses in Horse racing or steeplechase racing primarily as a profession Harry White (born 1944 was a top Australian jockey in the late 70s In Horse racing, a trainer is responsible for preparing a horse for races James Bartholomew 'Bart' Cummings AM (born 14 November 1927) is one of the most successful Australian racehorse trainers de Mestre (1861, 1862, 1867, 1877, 1878)
- 5 - Lee Freedman (1989, 1992, 1995, 2004, 2005)
Trophy
The trophy currently awarded (since 1919) is a three-handled gold loving cup worth $80,000 at 2007 prices. ----A trophy is a reward for a specific achievement and usually afterwards serves as proof of merit The Australian dollar ( sign: $; code: AUD) is the Currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas The winning trainer and jockey also receive a miniature replica of the cup (this practice commenced in 1973) and the strapper is awarded the Tommy Woodcock Trophy, named after the strapper of the incomparable Phar Lap. A strapper is a junior position looking after Race horses The duties range from cleaning out the stables to strapping on the saddles hence the name For the Computer software, see Phar Lap (company. Phar Lap, a giant chestnut Thoroughbred Gelding, is considered The trophy changed in appearance greatly over the years since the first trophy was awarded in 1861, with several of them featuring model horses. The first trophy was a gold watch, until a silver bowl manufactured in England, with two ornate handles with a horse and rider on top, was introduced in 1865. The following year an ornate silver cup depicting Alexander taming the horse was presented. There was then a period where a trophy wasn’t presented, until 1876 when Edward Fischer an immigrant from Austria produced the first Australian-made and gold trophy. It had two handles and an engraving of a horse race set at Flemington.
A silver plated base sporting three silver horses was added in 1888, but in 1891 the prize changed to being a 15 inch high, 24 inch long trophy showing a Victory figure offering an olive wreath to a jockey. From 1899 the trophy was in the form of silver galloping horse embossed on a 3 foot long plaque, although it was said to look like a greyhound by some people.
In the Second World war years ( 1942, 43 and 44 ) the winning owner received war Bonds valued at 200 pounds. A new trophy is struck each year and becomes the property of the winning owner. In the event of a dead heat a second cup is on hand. A few years ago an annual tour was initiated to foster further interest in the event. A replica of the cup is taken to locations locally and Internationally which have some connection to the Cup. Areas to which the Cup has been taken include the Middle East, New Zealand, United Kingdom and USA.
The last Melbourne Cup trophy manufactured in England was made for the 1914 event. It was a chalice centred on a long base which had a horse at each end. A large rose bowl trophy was presented 1915-1918 and the current loving cup design was introduced in 1919.
The present trophy is made of 34 pieces of gold metal hand beaten over 200 hours. Close inspection of the inside of the Cup will reveal small hammer imprints. As of May 07, 2008, the trophy values were increased by 50%. The Cup now contains 1. 65kg of 18-carat gold valuing the cup at $125,000 dollars
Prize money
The Melbourne Cup became the first race run in Australia with prize money of $1 million in 1985 and was won by "What a Nuisance". The Prince and Princess of Wales (Charles and Diana) attended that year's Cup race meeting, arriving by boat.
The total prize money awarded in 2005 and 2006 was AUD$5 million, plus trophies valued at AUD$100,000. As of May 7th, 2008, the Melbourne cup's prize money increased 10% to AUD$5. 5 million with First place increasing 10% to AUD$3. 3 million dollars. The prizemoney for places Second to Tenth have been adjusted upwards in a percentage formula commensurate with the various placings. [3] The race carries a AUD$500,000 bonus to the owner for any horse that can win the Irish St Leger (G1) and the Melbourne Cup in the one year.
Handicap
The Melbourne Cup race is a handicap contest in which the weight of the jockey and riding gear is adjusted with ballast to a nominated figure. For "handicap" as it refers to disabled persons see Disability. In Sport, a jockey is one who rides Horses in Horse racing or steeplechase racing primarily as a profession Older horses carry more weight than younger ones, and weights are adjusted further according to the horse's previous results.
Weight were theoretically calculated to give each horse an equal winning chance in the past, but in recent years the rules were adjusted to a "quality handicap" formula where superior horses are given less severe weight penalties than under pure handicap rules.
Attendance
The event is one of the most popular spectator events in Australia, with sometimes over 110,000 people, some dressed in traditional formal raceday wear and others in all manner of exotic and amusing costumes, attending the race. The record crowd was 122,736 in 2003. The 1926 running of the Cup was the first time that the 100,000 mark had been passed. Today the record at Flemington is held by the 2006 Victoria Derby when almost 130,000 attended. The Victoria Derby is an Australian Thoroughbred horse race held annually on the first day of Melbourne's annual Spring Racing Carnival, Victorian [4]
In 2007 a limit was placed on the Spring Carnival attendance at Flemington Racecourse and race-goers are now required to pre-purchase tickets. [5].
- 2006 - 106,691
- 2005 - 106,479
- 2004 - 98,181
- 2003 - 122,736 (record).
Off the track
'Fashions On The Field' is a major focus of the day, with substantial prizes awarded for the best-dressed male and female racegoers. The requirement for elegant hats, and more recently the alternative of a fascinator, almost single-handedly keeps Melbourne's milliners in business. A hat is a headcovering It may be worn for protection against the elements for religious reasons for safety or as a Fashion accessory. A fascinator is a Headpiece worn on the hair and worn almost exclusively by women Raceday fashion has occasionally drawn almost as much attention as the race itself, The miniskirt received worldwide publicity when model Jean Shrimpton wore one on Derby Day during Melbourne Cup week in 1965. The miniskirt (often hyphenated as mini-skirt) is a Skirt with Jean Shrimpton (born 7 November 1942 in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire) is an English Supermodel and actress [6][7]
Flowers, especially roses are an important component of the week's racing at Flemington. The racecourse has around 12000 roses within its large expanse. Over 200 varieties of the fragrant flower are nurtured by a team of up to 12 gardeners. Each of the major racedays at Flemington has an official flower. Victoria Derby Day has the Corn Flower, Melbourne Cup Day is for the Yellow Rose, Oaks Day highlights the Pink Rose and Stakes Day goes to the Red Rose.
In the Melbourne metropolitan area, the race day has been a gazetted public holiday since 1877, but around both Australia and New Zealand a majority of people watch the race on television and gamble, either through direct betting or participating in workplace cup "sweeps". Lists of holidays The words holiday or vacation have related meanings in different English-speaking countries and continents but will usually refer to one of A sweep is when a number of people pay to purchase a set of tickets each representing a horse As of April, 2007 the ACT also recognises Melbourne Cup Race Day as a holiday. } The Australian Capital Territory (ACT is the Capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and its smallest self-governing internal territory [8] In 2000 it was estimated that 80 percent of the adult Australian population placed a bet on the race that year. [9] In New Zealand the Melbourne Cup is the country's single biggest betting event, with carnival race-days held at several of the country's top tracks showing the cup live on big screens. [10]
Gallery
 Cornflower, the symbol of Melbourne Cup, Derby day |
 2007 Melbourne Cup, Derby day |
 Woman's hat in Melbourne Cup. During the day, all women wear beautiful and exotic hats |
 The horse show as well as fashion show of Melbourne Cup takes place on the lawn |
See also
- Thoroughbred racing in Australia
- Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival
- Melbourne Cup Challenge / Frankie Dettori Racing videogame
References
- ^ "ACT workers to get Melbourne Cup day off". Horse Racing in Australia is administered by the Australian Racing Board, with each state 's Principal Racing Authority agreeing to abide by and to enforce the The Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival is the name of a Melbourne, Australia Thoroughbred Horse racing series held annually during October and Known as Melbourne Cup Challenge in Australasia and Frankie Dettori Racing in Europe, MCC/FDR is a horse
- ^ "Japanese horses unlikely to travel to Australia for Melbourne Cup because of equine influenza", International Herald Tribune, August 26, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-08-27. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 479 BC - Greco-Persian Wars: Persian forces led by Mardonius are routed by Pausanias, the Spartan
- ^ "Cup now offering $5.5m to owners".
- ^ Record Derby Day crowd - Horse Racing - Sport - theage.com.au. www. theage. com. au. Retrieved on 2008-06-05. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 70 - Titus and his Roman Legions breach the middle wall of Jerusalem in the Siege of Jerusalem
- ^ "Spring Carnival crowd numbers to be capped".
- ^ "'Flair' features fashion's fabulous and fickle", The Age, 2005-02-05. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1576 - Henry of Navarre converts to Roman Catholicism in order to ensure his right to the throne of France.
- ^ Icons of England: The Miniskirt and Women's Lib
- ^ "ACT workers to get Melbourne Cup day off".
- ^ Tab Limited: 2000 Melbourne Cup (via Wayback Machine)
- ^ "Melbourne Cup looming large".
External links
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