A quick guide to the Melbourne Cup 2020

If you are based in Australia and enjoy staying up to date with the world of horse racing, you’ll likely have heard of the Melbourne Cup. The Cup is Australia’s most famous thoroughbred horse race. It takes place every single year. Horse racing fans and jockeys come from across Australia just to see what all of the fuss is about. Each year, you definitely need to know how to find the Melbourne Cup winner. If you are not familiar with the Melbourne Cup, or would like to find out more, you are in luck. We have put together a quick guide to the Melbourne Cup to get you up to speed. Keep reading to hear all about this sporting event. 

What is the Melbourne Cup?

The Melbourne Cup is a very famous horse racing event that takes place every year in Melbourne, Australia. The race itself takes place on Flemington Racecourse. The first edition took place in 1861. For those with knowledge of horse racing, you’ll be interested to read this quick guide to the Melbourne Cup. The race is for thoroughbred staying horses and involves flat racing. 

The distance of the Melbourne Cup is 3,200 metres, the approximate metric equivalent of two miles. Horses need to be three years old or older and will need to qualify for the big day. This event takes place in November with the race in 2020 taking place on Tuesday 3^rd. Because of the huge prize money on offer, the event is highly anticipated . In 2019, prize money stood at $8,000,000. This was $700,000 more than the previous year. 

History of the Melbourne Cup

The Melbourne Cup is by no means a new event, it has been around for well over 150 years. The race was first held in 1861 and offered a prize of 710 gold sovereigns and a hand-beaten gold watch. This is certainly a lot lower than the kind of prize that entrants can expect in 2020. There were 17 horses that raced in the first ever Melbourne Cup. A large crowd of 4,000 people came to watch. The winner, Archer, came back the following year (1862) and won again.

Over the years, the cup evolved, and more people started to take note of it. Many great horses have graced the track over the years with Martini-Henry winning the cup back in 1883. In 1930, Phar Lap won The Cup. At the time, ‘the red terror’ became known as the most famous horse in the world at the time.

More recently, many foreign-trained horses race in the Melbourne Cup. They usually put in a brave effort but many succumb to the arduous conditions of the race. Many trainers from around the world aim to get their horse into one of the upcoming Melbourne Cups. It’s very important for punters to follow the Melbourne Cup lead-up form for these international horses. However, 2020 is likely to be very different under the COVID-19 rules of international engagement.

Not only about horse racing

Like many other famous annual horse racing events, the Melbourne Cup has a lot more going on, off the track. Securing tickets to this event can be quite tricky. You’ll need to spend a lot to get your hands on some. Of course, there are some VIPs who can more easily get tickets. They have been attending these events for many years. In the same way that the Raging Bull VIP program offers players rewards, VIPs at the Melbourne Cup are rewarded with the best tickets. 

Interestingly, some local hotels will offer tickets and dining packages as part of the event. Many VIPs take advantage of these packages to turn it into something to celebrate. For those working in Melbourne, you’ll actually find that the day of the event is a public holiday. This indicates just how important this sporting event is. 

Of course, something else is notable in this quick guide to the Melbourne Cup. The most recognisable aspect of the entire Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival is the focus on ‘Fashions on the field’. Women must wear elegant hats or, if they prefer, a fascinator. Anyone attending the event must adhere to a strict dress code. This is to keep up the prestigious image of the event. Men and women spend a lot of money trying to find the perfect outfit for Cup day.

Notable Results

One final thing in this quick guide to the Melbourne Cup. Some horses and their riders have really come out on top over the years. Makybe Diva is the horse that currently holds the record for the most wins, with 3 under her belt.

Bobby Lewis and Harry White both hold the record for the most wins by a jockey over the years. They have both won four times in total. Bobby Lewis was the first to notch 4 winners. In 2015, the first female jockey was victorious. Michelle Payne heralded a new era of racing involving male and female jockeys racing for the Cup. 

From a sports betting angle, it is interesting that only 34 out of 150 favourites have won The Cup. While this is only 23%, it certainly shows that paying attention to the odds can help you select the winner. Each year, Australia’s greatest challenge is to find the Melbourne Cup winner. However, the conditions of the track on the day has a large bearing on who will win The Cup. The track and the horse’s demeanour can massively affect what happens. To find the winner, you’ll need to have access to the best free horse racing tips.

Melbourne Cup is not to be missed

If you have never experienced the Melbourne Cup before, then you should make sure to check it out. For those living in Melbourne, this is an extremely important event. A public holiday means that more people are able to attend the big day when it comes around. Those involved with the horses have invested a lot of time preparing for the race.

The next Melbourne Cup is just a few months away. As it might not be easy, you should try to secure tickets as soon as possible. If you manage it, you’ll be sure to have a good day. Many already have their favourites for the next Cup winner. However, there is more than enough time for lesser known horses to rise to the forefront of people’s minds. We hope you’ve enjoyed reading this quick guide to the Melbourne Cup 2020. Remember, the memories made on Cup Day can last a lifetime.

Tags: Melbourne Cup

Category: Horse Racing, Melbourne Cup