"Australian Cup The Australian Cup is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for horses three years old and older, held under Weight for Age conditions, over a distance of 2000 metres, at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia in March during the VRC Autumn Racing Carnival. Total prize money for the race is A$1,500,000. The race was once Australia's premier long distance race, raced at a distance of 18 furlongs (3621m) - thus, longer than the Melbourne Cup. In 1943 the race was shortened to 17 furlongs 110 yards to allow the race to be started from the top"
"Peter St. Albans Peter St Albans (1864-1898) is the youngest jockey ever to win the Melbourne Cup. He won in 1876 riding Briseis at the recorded age of thirteen (he was actually eleven, eight days short of his twelfth birthday). His record is unlikely to be beaten as he rode in the Melbourne Cup when he was under the stated minimum age of thirteen. He secured the mount for the three-year-old Briseis after the regular stable jockey could not make the featherweight of 6 stone and 4 pounds (39 kilos). Before 75,000 at Flemington Briseis, with St Albans in the"
"limit of 24, horses are balloted out based on a number of factors which include: 1000 prize money earned in the previous two years, 9 wins or placings in certain lead-up races 3 allocated handicap weight The winner of the following races are exempt from any ballot: The limitation of 24 starters is stated explicitly to be for safety reasons. However, in the past far larger numbers were allowed - the largest field ever raced was 39 runners in 1890. International horses (New Zealand not included) that are entered for the Melbourne Cup must undergo quarantine in an approved premises"
"handicap rules. After the declaration of weights for the Melbourne Cup, the winner of any handicap flat race of the advertised value of A$55,000 or over to the winner, or an internationally recognised Listed, Group, or Graded handicap flat race, shall carry such additional weight (if any), for each win, as the VRC Handicapper shall determine. Entries for the Melbourne Cup usually close during the first week of August. The initial entry fee is $600 per horse. Around 300 to 400 horses are nominated each year, but the final field is limited to 24 starters. Following the allocation of weights,"
"and 2400 metres (Belmont). The horses all carry the same weight (fillies a little less than colts and geldings), and none of the horses are being asked to race around the track in an unaccustomed direction. In Melbourne, the races are open to all horses aged three and over, and they race between 2,040 metres (Cox Plate) and 3,200 metres (Melbourne Cup). The weight carried by horses can vary immensely, both in each race and from race to race, because three different handicapping systems are employed. The Caulfield Cup is a handicap race, the Cox Plate is a weight-for-age race,"
"for the St Leger Stakes at Doncaster Racecourse and finished fourth, two lengths behind the winner Capri. Rekindling was then sent to Australia to contest the 2017 Melbourne Cup over 3200 metres at Flemington Racecourse on 7 November for which he was assigned a weight of 51.5kg. Although he was still a three-year-old by Northern hemisphere reckoning he was officially a four-year-old in Australia, where horses ages advance by a year on 1 August rather than 1 January. Ridden by the Australian jockey Corey Brown he started at odds of 14/1 in a field of twenty-three. After racing in mid-division"
"Memsie Stakes The Memsie Stakes is a Melbourne Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race held under weight for age conditions, for horses aged three years old and upwards, over a distance of 1400 metres. It is held at Caulfield Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia as a lead in to the Spring Racing Carnival. Total prize money for the race is A$1,000,000. The race is often used as a lead-up race by good horses preparing for the longer feature races such as the Caulfield Cup. Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup. Such horses typically compete against less glamorous, and usually fitter, sprinter-milers who"
"but with a maximum weight of 60 kg and a minimum weight of 52 kg. The race is also famous due to a triple dead-heat in 1956 involving Fighting Force, Ark Royal and Pandie Sun. The following thoroughbreds have won the Hotham Handicap – Melbourne Cup in the same year. † Dead heat Lexus Stakes The Lexus Stakes, registered as the Hotham Handicap, is a Victoria Racing Club Group 3 Thoroughbred horse race for horses three years old and older, held under quality handicap conditions, over a distance of 2500 metres, held annually at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia on Victoria"
"of Victoria. He died at the home for his father in law, Mr William Ryan at Geelong on 23 July 1898. Peter Bowden aka St. Albans was survived by his wife, Asastasia. He was buried at The Eastern Cemetery, Geelong on 25 July 1898. The funeral was watched by hundreds of locals and was possibly the biggest funeral in the history of Geelong at the time. Peter St. Albans Peter St Albans (1864-1898) is the youngest jockey ever to win the Melbourne Cup. He won in 1876 riding Briseis at the recorded age of thirteen (he was actually eleven, eight"
"Moonee Valley Gold Cup The Moonee Valley Gold Cup is a registered Moonee Valley Racing Club Group 2 Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged four-years-old and upwards under Set Weights with penalties conditions, over a distance of 2,500 metres, held annually at Moonee Valley Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia in late October on WS Cox Plate Day. Prize money is A$500,000. The event is the last major long distance event to be run before the Melbourne Cup. Kingston Rule was the only horse to win the Melbourne Cup after winning the Moonee Valley Cup in 1990. The Moonee Valley Cup has seen"
"Rekindling Rekindling (foaled 23 March 2014) is a British-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse, who won the 2017 Melbourne Cup. After winning once from three starts in 2016 he developed into a high-class staying colt in the following year, winning the Ballysax Stakes and Curragh Cup as well as producing several good efforts in defeat including a second place in the Irish St Leger Trial Stakes and fourth place finishes in the Dante Stakes and the St Leger Stakes. In November 2017 he became the youngest horse in 76 years to win the Melbourne Cup. Rekindling is a bay horse bred by"
"Turnbull Stakes The Turnbull Stakes is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race, for horses four years old and older, run under set weights with penalties conditions over a distance of 2,000 metres. The race is held at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia in early October. Total prize money is A$500,000. It is one of the important races of the Spring Racing Carnival and is considered a major preparatory race for the Caulfield Cup, W S Cox Plate and for the Melbourne Cup. In 1948 the race was renamed after the Victoria Racing Club Chairman at the time Richard"
"featherweight figure of jockey Peter St. Albans. In 1876 at the recorded age thirteen (he was actually twelve, being 8 days short of his thirteenth birthday), Peter St. Albans is also the youngest person ever to win a Melbourne Cup. Before 75,000 at Flemington Briseis, with St Albans in the saddle, comfortably won by 1 length in the biggest field of all time. ""At 4 o'clock the starter released the 33 runners and they swept down the long Flemington straight in a thundering rush. Briseis, ridden by what one writer termed a mere child, (in the Cup) captured a rare"
"Moonee Valley Vase The Moonee Valley Vase is a registered Moonee Valley Racing Club Group 2 Thoroughbred horse race held under Set Weights conditions, for horses aged three-years-old, over a distance of 2040 metres. It is held at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia on WS Cox Plate Day. Prize money is A$200,000. The event is considered to be a major preparation race for the Group 1 Victoria Derby, the premier race for three-year-olds during the Melbourne Cup carnival. The following thoroughbreds have won the Moonee Valley Vase – Victoria Derby double. The following thoroughbreds have won the Moonee Valley"
"Lexus Stakes The Lexus Stakes, registered as the Hotham Handicap, is a Victoria Racing Club Group 3 Thoroughbred horse race for horses three years old and older, held under quality handicap conditions, over a distance of 2500 metres, held annually at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia on Victoria Derby Day. Total prize money for the race is A$300,000 and $1,500 trophy. Historically the race has been a traditional lead-up for the Melbourne Cup three days later, with the winner gaining exemption from any ballot for entry to the Cup. As a ""Quality Race"", the weights are assigned as in a handicap,"
"The weight allocated to each horse is declared by the VRC Handicapper in early September. 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. Older horses carry more weight than younger ones, and weights are adjusted further according to the horse's previous results. Weights 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"
"Turnbull. The race has featured in the VRC Spring meet under different names. Turnbull Stakes The Turnbull Stakes is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race, for horses four years old and older, run under set weights with penalties conditions over a distance of 2,000 metres. The race is held at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia in early October. Total prize money is A$500,000. It is one of the important races of the Spring Racing Carnival and is considered a major preparatory race for the Caulfield Cup, W S Cox Plate and for the Melbourne Cup. In 1948 the"
"was moved the following year to the last day of the carnival. In 2007 the sprint was also changed to weight-for-age conditions. VRC Sprint Classic The VRC Sprint Classic, registered as the Victoria Racing Club Stakes, is a Victoria Racing Club Group One Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged three years old and over, under weight for age conditions, over a distance of 1200 metres held at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia on the last day of the VRC Spring Carnival. Total prize money for the race is A$1,000,000. The race is considered one of the major sprints of the spring"
"and morning dress by men. The flower of the day is a blue cornflower. The idea of wearing a cornflower on Derby Day was introduced in 1962 by Mrs Sheelah Wood, wife of prominent VRC committeeman of the time, Mr Samuel Richard Creswick Wood. Victoria Derby The Victoria Derby, also known as the AAMI Victoria Derby, is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held under Set Weights conditions over a distance of 2,500 metres at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia scheduled annually on the first day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, AAMI Victoria Derby Day. Total"
"Victoria Derby The Victoria Derby, also known as the AAMI Victoria Derby, is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held under Set Weights conditions over a distance of 2,500 metres at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia scheduled annually on the first day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, AAMI Victoria Derby Day. Total prize money for the race is A$2,000,000. Originally run at a distance of miles, in 1972 it was changed to 2,400 metres to conform to the metric system. However, the new distance brought potential danger from too short a run from the start to"
"LKS Mackinnon Stakes The Seppelt Mackinnon Stakes, registered as the LKS Mackinnon Stakes, is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race run under Weight for Age conditions over a distance of 2000 metres at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia on the last day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, the Saturday after the Melbourne Cup. Total prize money is A$2,000,000 and $2,500 trophy. The original race was named after a former chairman of the Victoria Racing Club, Lauchlan Kenneth Scobie (""L.K.S."") MacKinnon (1861–1935). It was originally held on the first day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, VRC Victoria Derby"
"Vase – VRC Oaks double. Moonee Valley Vase The Moonee Valley Vase is a registered Moonee Valley Racing Club Group 2 Thoroughbred horse race held under Set Weights conditions, for horses aged three-years-old, over a distance of 2040 metres. It is held at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia on WS Cox Plate Day. Prize money is A$200,000. The event is considered to be a major preparation race for the Group 1 Victoria Derby, the premier race for three-year-olds during the Melbourne Cup carnival. The following thoroughbreds have won the Moonee Valley Vase – Victoria Derby double. The following thoroughbreds"
"jockey is Tom Hales who won the Australian Cup eight times – Lurline (1875), Richmond (1876), Savanaka (1879), Navigator (1883), Morpeth (1884), Trident (1887), Carlyon (1888), Dreadnought (1890). † Dead heat ‡ Saladin and Flying Dutchman dead heated. After a re-run they dead heated again. On a second rerun Saladin was victorious. Australian Cup The Australian Cup is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for horses three years old and older, held under Weight for Age conditions, over a distance of 2000 metres, at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia in March during the VRC Autumn Racing Carnival. Total"
"Herbert Power Stakes The Herbert Power Stakes is a Melbourne Racing Club Group 2 Thoroughbred horse race held under quality handicap conditions, for horses aged three years old and older, over a distance of 2400 metres. It is held at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia. Prizemoney is A$400,000. The race was named after former Victoria Amateur Turf Club Chairman and thoroughbred owner Herbert Power (1833–1919), who was instrumental in the formation of the sport of racing in the early days of the Colony of Victoria. He joined the original Melbourne Club in 1859 and played an integral part in the"
"of Caulfield Racecourse. † Dead heat ‡ An embargo on Melbourne racing was in force by the Victorian Cabinet Futurity Stakes (MRC) The Futurity Stakes is a Melbourne Racing Club Group 1 weight-for-age Thoroughbred horse race for horses three years old and older, over a distance of 1400 metres held at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia, in late February. Total prize money is A$500,000. From 2006 until 2010 it was the first leg of the Asian Mile Challenge series, and its distance was changed to 1600 metres (1 mile). The race distance was reverted in 2011. During World War II"
"several double winners, such as Little Bob in 1891 & 1892, Gladwyn in 1914 and 1915, Gilltown in 1939 and 1940, Valcurl in 1945 and 1946 and Precedence in 2010 and 2013. Moonee Valley Gold Cup The Moonee Valley Gold Cup is a registered Moonee Valley Racing Club Group 2 Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged four-years-old and upwards under Set Weights with penalties conditions, over a distance of 2,500 metres, held annually at Moonee Valley Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia in late October on WS Cox Plate Day. Prize money is A$500,000. The event is the last major long distance event"
"the first European runner to win the Melbourne Cup, in 1993. Vintage Crop Stakes The Vintage Crop Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Ireland open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Navan over a distance of 1 mile and 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in April. The race was first run, as a Listed race, in 2003. It was upgraded to Group Three status from 2014. The race was a furlong shorter until 2011. The race is named after Vintage Crop, an Irish-trained racehorse of"
"Blamey Stakes The Blamey Stakes is a Victoria Racing Club Group 2 Thoroughbred horse race for three years old and older, with Set Weights with Penalties conditions over 1600 metres, at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia in March during the VRC Autumn Racing Carnival. The total prize money is A$200,000. The race is named after Sir Thomas Albert Blamey, who was Australia's only native born Field marshal that was a Victoria Racing Club Committee member from 1947 until his death in 1951. The race has been won by horses of exceptional calibre that have won at 2400 metres (~ miles) or"
"the Melbourne Cup. A short history of the event: The final of the Melbourne Cup involves the winners of eight heats conducted the previous week. In order for a greyhound to qualify for the heats, they must win an 'exemption race' - a Group 1 sprint race, a Victorian country cup (except the Healesville Cup) or a group race at Sandown Park 515m - in the 12 months preceding the Melbourne Cup final. The previous year's Melbourne Cup winner and all finalists in the 'Shootout,' a four-dog winner-takes-all event the week prior to the Melbourne Cup heats, also qualify for"
"the distance, rather than using the race to prepare for the Melbourne Cup. In 1937 the VRC moved the Melbourne Stakes to earlier in the spring, running it in September, over a shorter distance of . The race was the predecessor to the Turnbull Stakes. The following thoroughbreds have won the LKS MacKinnon Stakes – Melbourne Cup in the same year. LKS Mackinnon Stakes The Seppelt Mackinnon Stakes, registered as the LKS Mackinnon Stakes, is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race run under Weight for Age conditions over a distance of 2000 metres at Flemington Racecourse in"
"over but was shortened to in 1972 when Australia adopted the metric system. This reduced the distance by , and Rain Lover's 1968 race record of 3:19.1 was accordingly adjusted to 3:17.9. The present record holder is the 1990 winner Kingston Rule with a time of 3:16.3. The race is a quality handicap for horses 3 years old and over, run over a distance of 3,200 metres, on the first Tuesday in November at Flemington Racecourse. The minimum handicap weight is 50 kg. There is no maximum weight, but the top allocated weight must not be less than 57 kg."
"Dene Stud near Wollongong at the age of 35 in late 2012. Until his death, he was the oldest surviving Melbourne Cup winner. Just a Dash Just A Dash (1977 - 2 November 2012) was a notable Australian Thoroughbred racehorse, who won the 1981 Melbourne Cup. He was sired by Whiskey Road (USA), his dam Native Lass (AUS) was by Caranna (AUS). The horse won the race by 2 ¼ lengths providing Tommy Smith with just his second Melbourne Cup. He was ridden by Peter Cook whose father Billy Cook had himself ridden two previous winners of the race. Just"
"takes in cities around the world as part of the Victoria Racing Club’s strategy to promote the Melbourne Cup and the Melbourne Cup Carnival internationally. The Tour has visited schools and aged-care and hospital facilities, and participated in community events and celebrations including race days across Australia and New Zealand. Frederick Standish, member of the Victorian Turf Club and steward on the day of the first Cup, was credited with forming the idea to hold a horse race and calling it the ""Melbourne Cup"". Seventeen horses contested the first Melbourne Cup on Thursday 7 November 1861, racing for the modest"