Betting
The Melbourne Cup – Important Betting Facts & Figures
The Melbourne Cup race record is 3 minutes 16.3 seconds, set by Kingston Rule in 1990.
Fields
The smallest field to run in the Melbourne Cup was seven starters back in 1863, while the biggest field was 39 starters in 1890, the year the great Carbine won the Cup.
Weight Records
Back in 1863 (the smallest field ever) Banker won, carrying a mere 33.5kg, while Carbine outraced 38 rivals in 1890 lugging an incredible 65.6kg.
Eleven horses have won the Caulfield/ Melbourne Cup Double in the same year. They are: Poseidon (1906), The Trump (1937), Rivette (1939), Rising Fast (1954), Even Stevens (1962), Galilee (1966), Gurner’s Lane (1982), Let’s Elope (1991), Doriemus (1995), Might and Power (1997) and Ethereal (2001).
The Melbourne Cup Treble
Makybe Diva is the only horse to have won three Melbourne Cups (2003, 2004 & 2005) and her jockey Glen Boss is the first jockey to have won the race three years in a row.
Biggest winning margin is eight lengths – Archer in 1862 and Rain Lover in 1968.
Free Bet Bonuses
Looking For The Best Melbourne Cup Betting?
Since 1958 when the barrier stalls were used in the Cup for the first time, more horses have won from the four outside barriers (21-24) than have won from the four inside barriers (1-4). The most successful barriers in that period have been barriers 11 and 14 which have each produced five winners. Barrier 11 produced last year’s winner, Americain. Barriers 12 and 18 have yet to produce a winner.
Winners By Barrier
| Barrier | Wins | Last |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 1990 |
| 2 | 2 | 1997 |
| 3 | 3 | 2002 |
| 4 | 2 | 1987 |
| 5 | 3 | 1994 |
| 6 | 3 | 1965 |
| 7 | 1 | 2004 |
| 8 | 1 | 2008 |
| 9 | 2 | 2007 |
| 10 | 3 | 2001 |
| 11 | 6 | 2010 |
| 12 | 0 | 1949 |
| 13 | 1 | 1970 |
| 14 | 5 | 2005 |
| 15 | 1 | 1971 |
| 16 | 3 | 1998 |
| 17 | 2 | 1986 |
| 18 | 0 | - |
| 19 | 2 | 1967 |
| 20 | 2 | 1998 |
| 21 | 4 | 2009 |
| 22 | 3 | 2000 |
| 23 | 1 | 1976 |
| 24 | 2 | 1973 |
These figures date from 1958 when barrier stalls were first used in the Cup. (Figures in brackets indicate last win prior to introduction of barrier stalls.
The most successful saddlecloth number in the history of the Cup is number 1 with 12 wins while number4 and number12 have each provided eleven winners. The least successful saddlecloth number are 21 and 23. In 2009, Shocking made Melbourne Cup history by breaking an 86 year drought for saddle cloth number 21. The last horse to wear this number to victory was Bitalli in 1923. Currently, the longest drought is for number 20 – it was last carried by a Cup winner in 1897 (Gaulus) – that’s a losing streak of 113 years!
Winners by Saddlecloth Number
| Barrier | Wins | Last |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 | 2005 |
| 2 | 9 | 2006 |
| 3 | 4 | 1997 |
| 4 | 11 | 1986 |
| 5 | 7 | 2004 |
| 6 | 8 | 2007 |
| 7 | 4 | 1981 |
| 8 | 8 | 2010 |
| 9 | 7 | 1957 |
| 10 | 4 | 2008 |
| 11 | 7 | 1988 |
| 12 | 11 | 2003 |
| 13 | 7 | 2001 |
| 14 | 5 | 2002 |
| 15 | 5 | 1991 |
| 16 | 3 | 1972 |
| 17 | 7 | 1999 |
| 18 | 3 | 1932 |
| 19 | 6 | 1942 |
| 20 | 3 | 1897 |
| 21 | 2 | 2009 |
| 22 | 4 | 1998 |
| 23 | 2 | 1922 |
| 24 | 7 | 2000 |
Since 1955 the fi eld size has been limited to 24 runners. Prior to that, number 25 had provided two winners, number 26 one, number 28 one and number 39 one. Includes all winners (1861-1876 determined by weight order).