The Melbourne Cup is more than just a race, it’s an event that is now deeply embedded in Australian identity. Going back to 1861, the Cup has built its own mythology, with legendary moments that every single racing fan should know about.
These are our favorite moments from Melbourne Cup lore.
What You Need to Know: Melbourne Cup 2024
This year’s Melbourne Cup is happening on Tuesday, November 5 2024 at the Flemington Racecourse. As one of the few handicap horse races at this scale, it’s not only big in Australia but a major event for racing fans the world over.
The race itself is over before you know it, yet so many are still etched in our collective memory. The race is steeped in tradition, it stops the country for days, with people excitedly discussing potential long-odd winners, organizing viewing parties, agonizing about their outfits, and celebrating at the Melbourne Cup carnival.
This year, Jan Brueghel is slated to win, although it’s been a few years since the favorite has managed to live up to expectations. Look to the second and third favorites to spoil Jan’s day, with Vauban and Buckaroo both hovering around 8-1.
Phar Lap’s Unlikely 1930 Win
Put simply, Phar Lap is a legend in Australian horse racing. Together with jockey Ken Pike, Phar Lap’s meteoric rise to the top of horse racing gave hope to a nation struggling during the Great Depression. From humble beginnings, he won 32 of his final 35 races.
His 1930 win at the Melbourne Cup was something special, winning by three lengths. It was the culmination of his journey, from underdog to world-beater. It was at this point that he truly reached iconic status in the country, with one punter saying, ‘If you could only stand on your hind legs and talk, we’d make you PM of Australia.’
His death under suspicious circumstances (some claim he was poisoned) adds to the mythology of Phar Lap. What else could he have achieved if not cruelly taken so early in life? His death was such a shock, his wins so celebrated, that his remains were fought over, his heart now displayed in Australia, and his skeleton in his home country of New Zealand.
Makybe Diva’s Third Victory
She was already a two-time champion, but not quite yet a legend. In 2005, she won the Melbourne Cup for a third time in a row, an unprecedented achievement that astounded punters and commentators alike.
Before the race, Makybe Diva enjoyed great support throughout the country. Everyone knew this would be her final race, and horse racing fans all wanted to be there to witness history being made.
Makybe Diva did not disappoint. The race was won with ease, and the crowds gave the perfect finish. Jockey Glen Boss cried tears of joy, calling it a moment he would take to his grave. We are sure many Australians throughout the country shared his sentiment.
Old Rowley, 100-1 Winner
Winding the block back to the earlier years of the Melbourne Cup, this one still captures the imagination. There is something about an underdog, an unlikely hero, that everyone loves.
For the 1940 Melbourne Cup, Old Rowley was not anywhere near the top of the favorites with the bookies. In fact, he was a 100-1 long shot, a punt you make with the bookies, never expecting to win.
And there was good reason to have Old Rowley at such long odds. In two years, he had not won a single race. Insiders believed he suffered from several physical ailments, including gait and joint issues.
Even the owner of the horse did not expect, or even hope, for a victory. Yet his jockey remained faithful, riding Old Rowley on the outside of the field, eventually beating the undoubted favorite Beau Vite to the finish line and winning one of the most famous races in Melbourne Cup history.
Prince of Penzance Makes Double History
Our final entry is the most recent, with Prince of Penzance’s famous victory at the 2015 Melbourne Cup still a talking point almost a decade on. Just like Old Rowley, Prince of Penzance was a 100-1 horse with no chance. And just like Old Rowley, he would defy the odds and win the race.
Many argue that this victory was even more unlikely, with odds so finely tuned, bookies with stacks of data-driven analysis, scouting reports, insider information, it’s very difficult to ‘hide’ a winner.
But all the data out there would never have resulted in churning out Prince of Pencanze as the winner. That’s why we love the Cup, the unlikely winners, defying all expectations, and proving the experts wrong.
It was also a memorable win because, for the first time ever, a female jockey crossed the finish line first. The race has been running since 1861, and it took over 150 years for it to happen.
The Cup isn’t just about the winner or the fastest horse; it’s about the tales coming along with it. From underdogs taking victories to legendary champions winning three times in a row, each race adds another layer to its history. As we prepare for this year’s Melbourne Cup, racing fans worldwide can only wonder: What will the race bring? Another epic upset or a favorite’s triumph? No matter the outcome, being a part of it makes life memorable.