Administration: Victoria Racing Club. www.vrc.net.au
Feature Races: Highlight of the Melbourne racing calendar is the four day Melbourne Cup Carnival, featuring one of the most well known sporting events in the world - The Melbourne Cup. Other feature races throughout the year include the Australian Cup, Victoria Derby, Crown Oaks, Emirates Stakes, Mackinnon Stakes, Lightning Stakes, Turnbull Stakes & Newmarket Handicap.
History: The VRC first held it's famous two mile handicap event in 1861. It is now the richest race of this type in the world. The Cup is held on the first Tuesday of November, a public holiday in Victoria. All the winners of the Melbourne Cup become a part of Australian racing history, but none more than Makybe Diva who won the race an unprecedented three times in a row from 2003 -2005. Each raceday during the Spring Carnival has an official flower: for Derby Day is it a Corn Flower, Melbourne Cup Day is a Yellow Rose, Crown Oaks Day is a Pink Rose, and on Emirates Stakes Day is it traditional to wear a Red Rose.
Melbourne Cup Statistics: Race record held by Kingston Rule (1990) 3 minutes 6.13 seconds. Last topweight to win Makybe Diva (58kgs) in 2005. Last horse to win two Melbourne Cups - Think Big (1974 -1975). Since barrier stall were introduced in 1924, no horse has won from barrier 18. Last 3yo to win Skipton in 1941. Bart Cummings has won more Cups than any other trainer (12), the last being Viewed in 2008. First female trainer to win the Melbourne Cup Sheila Laxon (Ethereal 2001). Record trifecta dividend in the Melbourne Cup $61,867.90 in 1993.
Flemington Track Bias, Starting Distances, Barriers:
About the track: Circumference is 2313 metres, length of the home straight is 450 metres. After suffering from track bias problems for many years, the track was fully reconstructed in 2007. New turf and a camber on the right hand side have dramatically improved the track with little bias on either side of the track and an equal advantage to those racing on the pace and finishing from behind. Whereas the old track had the potential to become very hard in dry weather and very wet in the rain, the new track offers a very consistent surface that suits most runners and is a safer track for horses to race on all year round.
Races run over 1000, 1100 or 1200 metres use the ‘straight six’ (named for its six furlongs) with barriers placed at the end of the chute which leads into the home straight, giving one long straight run to the winning post. After years of confusion with runners heading to one side or the other, or both, the barriers were positioned in the centre of the track to make it fairer for all runners. Fields can be large with a maximum number of 22 runners.
There is a theory that the prevailing wind can present a bias to the inside or outside rail, but it really is just a theory. Penetrometer readings can be a guide to determining which side of the track has the better going, although after many days of consecutive racing, such as during the Melbourne Cup Carnival, the outside rail has seen less traffic and can be quicker. The outside rail can also be better in rain affected going or when the inside rail is positioned out 5 metres or more. Runners often race to the inside rail earlier in the day, then switch to the outside rail for straight races run later in the afternoon.
The 1600m & 2500m starts are positioned right before a bend. Drawing an inside barrier at these starting positions can be an advantage, especially when the rail is out 5 metres or more.
1400m, 2000m & 3200m - with a long straight run before the turn at each of these starts, few horses are at a disadvantage. Most runners will have their chance, although it is always difficult to lead all the way at this track due to the long home straight. Barriers are usually of little importance, but if the rail is out there is a slight advantage to drawing an inside gate at 1400m & 2000m starts.
There are only a few races run over the 3200m start each year, including the Melbourne Cup. The maximum number of runners in the Melbourne Cup is 24, there are currently no emergencies due to the inability of the TAB system to accommodate them. In theory, the barriers should be of no consequence over the two miles, however trainers generally prefer to draw inside barrier 12. Pace is an important factor, the speed is usually genuine with one or more runners setting a quick tempo. It is hard to lead all the way, but even harder to win from absolute last. The ideal running position is just behind the leaders and one horse away from the inside fence.
For here more on Melbourne's most famous horse race including statistics, past winners & how to find the winner.
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This website is operated independently by Melbourne Track Report and not by Victoria Racing Club Limited, which conducts the Melbourne Cup horse race at Flemington. For the website of Victoria Racing Club Limited see www.vrc.net.au
