In this article, you will find the facts about the Melbourne Cup that you do not know before. The Melbourne Cup is Australia’s most prestigious annual thoroughbred horse race. The location of cup is in Flemington Racecourse Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, it was inaugurated since 1861. The event sponsored such as by Lexus. The length of line race is 3,200 metres or 2 miles. Let us read the explanation below to find out the other secrets of Melbourne Cup.
Facts about The Melbourne Cup 1: Qualifying and Race Condition
The race is only for the horses 3 years old or older, and run over a distance of 3,200 metres, on the first November at Flemington Racecourse. 50 Kg is the minimum weight for handicap and there is no maximum one, but the top allocated weight must not be less than 57 Kg.
Facts about The Melbourne Cup 2: The Rules for Weight of Handicap
Weights were theoretically calculated to give each horse an equal winning chance in the past, however, in recent years the rules were adjusted to a “quality handicap” formula where superior horses are given less severe weight penalties than under pure handicap rules.
Facts about The Melbourne Cup 3: Weight Penalties
Amazingly, the winner of any handicap racehorse of the advertised value A$55,000 or over to the winner, after the declaration of weights for the Melbourne Cup.
Facts about The Melbourne Cup 4: Fees
The first week of August is usually the deadline for entries of the Melbourne Cup. The started entry fee is $600 per horse. Interestingly, at least 300 to 400 horses are nominated each year, however, the final field strongly limited to 24 starters. The owner of the horse must on four occasions before the race begins in November. First acceptance is $960, the second one is $1,450, the third is $2,420 then the final acceptance is $45,375.
Facts about The Melbourne Cup 5: Balloting Condition
In order to reduce the field to the safety limit of 24, horses are chosen based on a number of factors that include: prize money earned in the previous two years, wins or placing in certain lead-up races, and allocated handicap weeight.
Facts about The The Melbourne Cup 6: Races Are Exempt From Any Ballot
The winner of the following races that are exempt from balloting including, Lexus Stakes, LKS Mackinnon Stakes, Cox Plate, Caulfield Cup, The Burt Cummings, Doncaster Cup, Irish St. Leger, Tenno Sho (Spring), Sankei Sho All Comers, Arlington Million, San Juan Capistrano Handicap, Australian Stayers Challenge.
Facts about The Melbourne Cup 7: The Reason Why, It Was Limited to 24 Participants
The limitation of 24 starters is stated explicitly to be for safety reasons.
Facts about The Melbourne Cup 8: Quarantine
The International participants except New Zealand must undergo quarantine before the tournament started.
Facts about The Melbourne Cup 9: The Prize Money
In 2017, the total amount prize was A$6,200,000 plus trophies valued at $175,000.
Facts about The Melbourne Cup 10: The Trend of Prize Money
The trend of prize money tends to increase from 2004 until 2018. In 2018 the most significant increasing was occured which was from $6,200,000 in 2017 to $7,300,000 in 2018.
Finally, you have known the facts about the Melbourne Cup, how do you feel?