Melbourne Cup Betting Guide and Tips

Welcome to our Melbourne Cup betting guide. If you want to learn everything there is to know about wagering on Australia’s most popular horse race, we’ve got you covered.

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Below, we cover all the key details regarding the Melbourne Cup, share our expert Melbourne Cup betting tips and look at the recent winners of “the race that stops the nation”.

Introduction to the Melbourne Cup

• Where: Melbourne, Australia
• Venue: Flemington Racecourse
• When: First Tuesday of November
• Inaugurated: 1861 (162 years ago)
• Race Type: Thoroughbred; Flat
• Distance: 3,200m (1 mile, 1,740 yards)
• Track Type: Turf
• Qualification: 3-year-olds and up

The first edition of the Melbourne Cup took place all the way back in 1861, making it one of the longest-running horse races on the planet. Nowadays, the race is held annually on the first Tuesday of November, which is a public holiday in the state of Victoria.

The flat turf race is for thoroughbreds aged three and over, and the left-handed track is 3,200m in length. In 2023, the prize purse was a mouthwatering A$8,410,000.

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Melbourne Cup Betting Tips

Now that you’re up to speed on all the key details of the race, it’s time for us to reveal our top Melbourne Cup betting tips. Hundreds of thousands of people wager on the iconic race each year, but only elite bettors utilize expert Melbourne Cup betting strategies.

Look at Recent Results and Form

The first thing you should do when planning your Melbourne Cup betting adventure is analyze the form of each horse in the lineup. With more than 20 horses in the field, you can’t afford to leave any stone unturned.

A favored horse might have experienced a poor run of form before the big race, while an underdog might have produced a hot streak of impressive results. With that in mind, you need to assess all the options before you lay down your wagers.

Study the History Books

The Melbourne Cup history books tell us a lot about which horses and jockeys are worth backing. Certain horses and jockeys have enjoyed a great deal of success over the years, and that success could continue.

For example, Makybe Diva won three consecutive races between 2003 and 2005, becoming the only horse in history to win three Melbourne Cups. More recently, Mark Zahra rode back-to-back winners in 2022 and 2023.

Make Use of Multiple Melbourne Cup Betting Markets

Due to the popularity of the race, there is a seemingly endless number of Melbourne Cup betting markets to choose from. Accordingly, you should explore as many options as possible to find the best value.

Of course, wagering on the winning horse is the most popular option, but you can also place each-way bets, top-three and top-five bets, jockey-related bets and a host of other wagers, including props.

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Recent Winners of the Melbourne Cup

• 2023 – Horse: Without A Fight / Jockey: Mark Zahra
• 2022 – Horse: Gold Trip / Jockey: Mark Zahra
• 2021 – Horse: Verry Elleegant / Jockey: James McDonald
• 2020 – Horse: Twilight Payment / Jockey: Jye McNeil
• 2019 – Horse: Vow And Declare / Jockey: Craig Williams
• 2018 – Horse: Cross Counter / Jockey: Kerrin McEvoy
• 2017 – Horse: Rekindling / Jockey: Corey Brown
• 2016 – Horse: Almandin / Jockey: Kerrin McEvoy
• 2015 – Horse: Prince of Penzance / Jockey: Michelle Payne
• 2014 – Horse: Protectionist / Jockey: Ryan Moore

Learn how to bet on horse racing futures next.