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Q: How is the final field of horse in the Melbourne Cup decided, what are the ballot conditions?
A: The final field of the Melbourne Cup is determined by the board of the VRC subject to certain conditions. The VRC board, at its discretion, may eliminate a horse(s) from the final field of 24 in certain circumstances. If such discretionary elimination does occur, replacement of such a horse will be according to the balloting order with the next horse in the order of entry making its way into the final field of 24. Horses outside of the top 24 will not be promoted over other horses.
Q: Why are there no emergencies in the Melbourne Cup?
A: The Australian totalisator (TAB) does not have a facility to accommodate more than 24 runners in a field, so there can be no number 25 or 26 etc. In other countries this is overcome by giving an emergency runner the saddlecloth number of a scratched horse, but this is not permitted in Australia.
Q: When are final acceptances for the 2011 Melbourne Cup?
A: Final Declarations are taken by 5pm on Saturday 29th October 2011. The final field and barrier draw are announced a short time later. Final acceptances are taken on the understanding the horse would be fit enough to race if the Melbourne Cup were held on the day of final declarations. The final field and barrier draw for the 2011 Melbourne Cup will be published HERE.
Q: Are the winners of certain races guaranteed entry to the Melbourne Cup?
A: In 2011, the winners of the following races are exempt from ballot and permitted an entry to the Melbourne Cup should they decide to nominate:
VRC Lexus Stakes
VRC Victoria Derby
VRC Mackinnon Stakes
MVRC Cox Plate
MRC Caulfield Cup
Irish St Leger
Tenno Sho (Japan)
The remaining final acceptors shall be eliminated in the following order until the limit of 24 is reached:
Horses (other than those above) that:
A) since 1 August 2009 inclusive have won, or been placed 2nd or 3rd in an internationally recognised Group or Graded flat race run over 2300 metres or further; OR
B) since 1 August 2009 inclusive have been placed 4th or 5th in an internationally recognised Group 1 or Grade 1 flat race run over 2300 metres or further in which horses older than 3 years old could run, OR
C) since 1 August 2009 inclusive have won an internationally recognised Listed flat race run over 2300 metres or further, OR
D) since 1 August 2009 inclusive have won or been placed 2nd or 3rd in the York Ebor (UK), Northumberland Plate (UK), Cesarewitch (UK), Champions & Chater Cup (HK) or Queen Mother Memorial Cup (HK), OR
E) have been placed 6th, 7th or 8th in the 2011 MRC Caulfield Cup, OR
F) have been placed 2nd or 3rd in the 2011 MVRC Cox Plate, OR
G) have been placed 2nd or 3rd in the 2011 VRC Mackinnon Stakes, OR
H) have won the 2011 VRC Turnbull Stakes
The first acceptances for the 2012 Melbourne Cup will be taken in September 2012 and weights are released a few weeks later. The final nominations and order of entry for the 2012 Melbourne Cup will be announced on Saturday 3rd November 2012 and published here first - bookmark us!
Melbourne Cup Nominations and Order of Entry. Elimination order of horses for this year’s Melbourne Cup. Official acceptances, weights and form Melbourne Cup horses. Answers to common questions about the Melbourne Cup order of entry and acceptances. Melbourne Cup nominations in elimination ballot order.
