Melbourne Cup betting sites

IT’S known as the race that stops a nation – the city of Melbourne and the state of Victoria come to a standstill for the five minutes it takes to run the Melbourne Cup.

The Melbourne Cup is one of the world’s richest horse races and draws the best talent from around the globe to compete for the enormous prize money on offer.

The race has seen winners from Australia, Japan, Germany, England and Ireland and routinely draws an incredible audience both on track at Flemington racecourse and on television.

Traditionally Flemington will house close to 100,000 patrons on-course for the world’s most famous staying race, with a global audience of well over 700 million people expected to tune in.

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2017 Melbourne Cup odds

How betting on the Melbourne Cup works

Betting on the Melbourne Cup works exactly the same as any other horse race, the key difference being there is a greater interest which means there is much money spent and a fixed odds market that goes up almost instantaneously after the most recent Cup is run and won.

The win market is simply a return on the odds on offer for every dollar you put on. For instance, the 2015 Melbourne Cup winner Protectionist paid $8.50 with Sportsbet fixed odds.

This means punters smart enough to take those odds on the German horse would have received $8.50 for every dollar they invested – one lucky punter put on a 10,000 bet with William Hill fixed odds several weeks before the big race, netting him 85,000 dollars.

The $8.50 was a guaranteed dividend too because it was placed as a fixed odds bet, which means you get that price no matter how much the winning dividend fluctuates from when you placed your wager. The fixed odd market also extends to the place and quinella.

Fixed odds markets can be a lucrative way to place a Melbourne Cup bet, with astute punters able to get much better odds on a horse if they are able to identify a winner well before the race day fields are out.

As previously mentioned, the Melbourne Cup betting is unlike any other race in the world in that fixed odds markets will go up as soon the race has concluded, with typically the horse that took out the race opening as the favourite.

Bet types on the Melbourne Cup

Win: Win bet explains itself. You place your money on the horse you think will pass the post first.

Place bet: A place bet gives you a much better chance at getting a return, but it will be significantly smaller. A place bet means your horse can finish within the top three and you will get a return. Having said that, in a field of 24 like the Melbourne Cup, finding a horse to do that is easier said than done.

Each way bet: An each way bet means you will have something on the win, but also a saver on the place. Typically you put an each way bet on a bit of an outsider, given that the favoured horses in the race pay minimal returns on the place.

Quinella: A quinella bet is simple in theory but hard in practise. Placing a quinella simply means you pick the horses to finish one and two in the race in no particular order.

Exacta: An exacta bet works the same as a quinella, only difference being the punter has to select the correct order of the horses.

Trifecta: One of the most popular exotics, a trifecta bet is selecting the horses to finish first, second and third. There is several ways you can put this bet on, whether it be in the correct order or a boxed selection – which means your selections can finish in any order.

First Four: First four – like the win bet – is self-explanatory. Like the trifecta bet you can either select the horses to run in the correct order, or you can box four or more horses to run in any order.

Fixed odds futures: You can bet on the Melbourne Cup all year round. Outlets such as Crownbet, Sportsbet and William Hill offer fixed odds markets on the Melbourne Cup not long after the completion of that year’s race.

Best Melbourne Cup bookmakers

Those wishing to make an investment on the race that stops a nation have a myriad of options when it comes to wagering their money. Aussies have a swag of freebets available to them although there restrictions on claiming them in some states.

One of Australia’s favourite online bookmakers Sportsbet.com.au have a heaps of options available for the big race, with fixed odds markets up and accessible several weeks in advance of the race itself. Add to this a $501 matched free bet, and it’s easy to see why Sportsbet is so popular with the punters.

The official wagering partner of Racing Victoria, Crownbet is investing heavily in making horse racing in Victoria the best it can be. Not just that, the Crownbet experience is one that a lot of punters are turning to, with top-tote and protest payouts, it is easy to see why Aussie punters are making the switch.

When it comes to the Australian spring carnival of racing, few bookmakers are across all the action quite like WilliamHill.com.au. A mainstay in the horse racing industry across the world, William Hill is a go-to for all horse racing enthusiasts with their top-tote, first past the post and protest payout features. William Hill also offer a $200 first bet bonus.

Melbourne Cup history

Every Australian is aware of the Melbourne Cup. Horses like the legendary Phar Lap, who won the 1930 Melbourne Cup, and Makybe Diva (who won three successive Cups) are given the same plaudits as our most famous sportsmen and women. The race is always run on the same day and is a public holiday in Victoria.

At just after 3pm every on the first Tuesday in November Australia stops as the best stayers from Australia and overseas battle it out over 3200 metres. Kids are let out of school early, lagers flow and of course the on-course crowd exceeds 100,000 putting it right among the biggest race meets in the world.

Just how did the Melbourne Cup evolve into such a huge event?

A man by the name of Frederick Standish, who was a member of the Victorian Turf Club, is widely accepted as the man who created the Melbourne Cup, with it first run in 1861. On Thursday, November 7, 17 horses pounded the course for just over £700. It is believed to be one of the healthiest purses for a horse race at this time.

Archer won the inaugural cup and has ever since been a staple at trivia nights around the country, as the great race has grown into something Standish would fail to recognise.

A little known fact about the early days of the cup is the decision to give members of the club two ladies tickets for the Melbourne Cup, the thinking: “where women go, men will follow.” Perhaps this is why the Melbourne Cup has always been inclusive of the fairer sex.

• Past winners

  The Melbourne Cup Winners

  The Complete Melbourne Cup Winners From 1861 – 2012

  Year	Horse	Jockey	Trainer	Colour	Sex	Age	Starters	Number	Barrier	Weight
  2016	Almandin	K McEvoy	R Hickmott	Bay	Gelding	7	23	17	17	52
  2015	Prince of Penzance	Michelle Payne	D Weir	Bay	Gelding	6	24	19	1	53
  2014	Protectionist	R Moore	A Wohler	Bay	Horse	5	22	5	11	56.5
  2013	Fiorente	D Oliver	G Waterhouse	Brown	Horse	6	24	6	5	55
  2012	Green Moon	B Prebble	R Hickmott	Bay	Horse	6	24	14	5	53.5
  2011	Dunaden	C P Lemaire	M Delzangles	Bay	Horse	6	23	3	13	54.5
  2010	Americain	G. Mosse	A De Royer-Dupre	Bay/Brown	Horse	6	23	8	11	54.5
  2009	Shocking	C. Brown	M. Kavanagh	Bay	Horse	4	23	21	22	51
  2008	Viewed	B. Shinn	J.B. Cummings	Bay	Horse	5	22	10	8	53
  2007	Efficent	M. Rodd	G. Rogerson	Grey	Gelding	4	21	6	10	54.5
  2006	Delta Blues	Y. Iwata	K. Sumii	Bay	Horse	6	23	2	10	56
  2005	Makybe Diva	G. Boss	L. Freedman	Bay	Mare	7	24	1	14	58
  2004	Makybe Diva	G. Boss	L. Freedman	Bay	Mare	6	24	5	7	55.5
  2003	Makybe Diva	G. Boss	D. Hall	Bay	Mare	5	23	12	14	51
  2002	Media Puzzle	D. Oliver	D. Weld	Chesnut	Gelding	6	19	14	3	52.5
  2001	Ethereal	S. Seamer	S. Laxon	Bay	Mare	4	22	13	13	52
  2000	Brew	K. McEvoy	M. Maroney	Bay	Gelding	6	23	24	22	49
  1999	Rogan Josh	J. Marshall	J.B. Cummings	Brown	Gelding	7	24	17	21	50
  1998	Jezabeel	C. Munce	B. Jenkins	Brown	Mare	6	25	22	16	51
  1997	Might And Power	J. Cassidy	J. Denham	Bay/Brown	Gelding	4	22	3	2	56
  1996	Saintly	D. Beadman	J.B. Cummings	Chesnut	Gelding	4	22	5	3	55.5
  1995	Doriemus	D. Oliver	L. Freedman	Chesnut	Gelding	5	21	6	21	54.5
  1994	Jeune	Wayne Harris	D. Hayes	Chesnut	Horse	6	24	6	5	56.5
  1993	Vintage Crop	Michael Kinane	D. Weld	Chesnut	Gelding	7	24	6	5	55.5
  1992	Subzero	Greg Hall	L. Freedman	Grey	Horse	4	21	8	14	54.5
  1991	Lets Elope	S.R. King	J.B. Cummings	Chesnut	Mare	4	24	15	10	51
  1990	Kingston Rule	D. Beadman	J.B. Cummings	Chesnut	Horse	5	24	8	1	53
  1989	Tawrrific	R.S. Dye	L. Freedman	Bay	Horse	5	23	6	11	54
  1988	Empire Rose	T. Allan	L.K.Laxon	Chesnut	Mare	6	22	11	20	53.5
  1987	Kensei	L. Olsen	L.J.Bridge	Chesnut	Gelding	5	21	8	4	51.5
  1986	At Talaq	M. Clarke	C.S. Hayes	Bay	Horse	6	22	4	17	54.5
  1985	What A Nuisance	P. Hyland	J.F. Meagher	Bay	Gelding	7	23	13	17	52.5
  1984	Black Knight	P. Cook	G.M. Hanlon	Bay/Brown	Gelding	5	19	17	11	50
  1983	Kiwi	J. Cassidy	E.S. Lupton	Chesnut	Gelding	6	24	11	2	52
  1982	Gurners Lane	L. Dittman	G.T. Murphy	Chesnut	Gelding	4	23	4	22	56
  1981	Just A Dash	P. Cook	T.J. Smith	Bay	Gelding	4	22	7	9	53.5
  1980	Beldale Ball	J. Letts	C.S. Hayes	Brown	Horse	5	22	15	22	49.5
  1979	Hyperno	H. White	J.B. Cummings	Bay/Brown	Gelding	6	22	2	11	56
  1978	Arwon	H. White	G.M. Hanlon	Bay/Brown	Gelding	5	22	12	20	50.5
  1977	Gold And Black	J. Duggan	J.B. Cummings	Brown	Gelding	5	24	2	14	57
  1976	Van Der Hum	R.J. Skelton	L.H. Robinson	Chesnut	Gelding	5	23	6	23	54.5
  1975	Think Big	H. White	J.B. Cummings	Bay	Gelding	5	20	2	3	58.5
  1974	Think Big	H. White	J.B. Cummings	Bay	Gelding	4	22	12	16	53
  1973	Gala Supreme	F. Reys	R.J. Hutchins	Brown	Gelding	4	24	15	24	49
  1972	Piping Lane	J. Letts	G.M. Hanlon	Brown	Gelding	6	22	16	11	48
  1971	Silver Knight	R.B. Marsh	E. Temperton	Grey	Horse	4	21	8	15	55
  1970	Bagdad Note	E.J. Didham	R. Heasley	Grey	Gelding	5	23	4	13	54
  1969	Rain Lover	J. Johnson	M.L. Robins	Bay	Horse	5	23	2	5	60.5
  1968	Rain Lover	J. Johnson	M.L.Robins	Bay	Horse	4	26	11	24	51.5
  1967	Red Handed	R. Higgins	J.B. Cummings	Chesnut	Gelding	5	22	5	19	55
  1966	Galilee	J. Miller	J.B. Cummings	Bay	Gelding	4	22	4	14	56.5
  1965	Light Fingers	R. Higgins	J.B. Cummings	Chesnut	Mare	4	26	14	6	52.5
  1964	Polo Prince	R. Taylor	J.P. Carter	Bay	Gelding	6	26	12	4	52
  1963	Gatum Gatum	J. Johnson	H.G. Heagney	Brown	Gelding	5	26	22	19	50
  1962	Even Stevens	L. Coles	A. McGregor	Chesnut	Horse	5	26	6	21	53
  1961	Lord Fury	R. Selkrig	F.B. Lewis	Brown	Horse	4	25	17	6	48
  1960	Hi Jinx	W. A. Smith	T.H. Knowles	Bay	Mare	5	32		6	49
  1959	Macdougal	P. Glennon	R.W. Roden	Bay	Gelding	6	28	5	16	56
  1958	Baystone	M. Schumacher	J. Green	Bay	Gelding	6	29	7	10	55
  1957	Straight Draw	N. McGrowdie	J.M. Mitchell	Bay	Gelding	5	19	9	8	53
  1956	Evening Peal	G. Podmore	E.D. Lawson	Brown	Mare	4	22	12	10	51
  1955	Toparoa	N. Sellwood	T.J. Smith	Bay	Gelding	7	24	11	19	48
  1954	Rising Fast	J. Purtell	I.J. Tucker	Bay/Brown	Gelding	5	25	1	8	59.5
  1953	Wodalla	J. Purtell	R. Sinclair	Brown	Horse	4	21	9	5	52.5
  1952	Dalray	W. Williamson	C.C. McCarthy	Bay	Horse	4	30	1	1	61
  1951	Delta	N. Sellwood	M. McCarten	Brown	Horse	5	28	1	8	59.5
  1950	Comic Court	P. Glennon	J. Cummings	Brown	Horse	5	26	1	14	59.5
  1949	Foxami	W. Fellows	D. Lewis	Bay	Horse	4	31	5	12	54.5
  1948	Rimfire	R. Neville	S. Boyden	Chesnut	Gelding	6	30	25	23	45.5
  1947	Hiraji	J. Purtell	J.W. McCurley	Grey	Gelding	4	30	12	11	49.5
  1946	Russia	D. Munro	E. Hush	Chesnut	Horse	6	35	1	1	57
  1945	Rainbird	W. Cook	S. Evans	Chesnut	Mare	4	26	17	17	47.5
  1944	Sirius	D. Munro	E. Fisher	Chesnut	Horse	4	23	4	4	53
  1943	Dark Felt	V. Hartney	R. Webster	Brown	Horse	6	24	5	9	52.5
  1942	Colonus	H. McCloud	F. Manning	Bay	Horse	4	24	19	24	45.5
  1941	Skipton	W. Cook	J. Fryer	Chesnut	Colt	3	23	13	19	47.5
  1940	Old Rowley	A. Knox	J.A. Scully	Chesnut	Gelding	7	20	11	5	50
  1939	Rivette	E. Preston	H. Bamber	Bay	Mare	6	26	12	4	48.5
  1938	Catalogue	F. Shean	A. McDonald	Bay	Gelding	8	22	5	17	52.5
  1937	The Trump	A. Reed	S.W. Reid	Bay	Gelding	5	28	10	8	53
  1936	Wotan	O. Phillips	J. Fryer	Brown	Horse	4	20	15	6	49.5
  1935	Maraboa	K. Voitre	L. Robertson	Bay	Horse	4	22	12	10	49.5
  1934	Peter Pan	D. Munro	F. McGrath	Chesnut	Horse	5	22	1	25	61.5
  1933	Hall Mark	J. O Sullivan	J. Holt	Chesnut	Colt	3	18	13	6	48
  1932	Peter Pan	W. Duncan	F. McGrath	Chesnut	Colt	3	27	18	11	47
  1931	White Nose	N. Percival	E.J. Hatwell	Brown/Black	Horse	5	14	14	12	43.5
  1930	Phar Lap	J.E. Pike	H.R. Telford	Chesnut	Gelding	4	15	1	13	62.5
  1929	Nightmarch	R. Reed	A. McAulay	Brown	Horse	4	14	3	5	58
  1928	Statesman	J. Munro	W. Kelso	Chesnut	Horse	4	17	8	19	51
  1927	Trivalve	R. Lewis	J. Scobie	Chesnut	Colt	3	26	19	27	47
  1926	Spearfelt	H. Cairns	V. O Neill	Brown	Horse	5	21	4	1	58.5
  1925	Windbag	J. Munro	G. Price	Bay	Horse	4	28	2	25	58
  1924	Backwood	P. Brown	R. Bradfield	Bay	Horse	6	18	9	7	51.5
  1923	Bitalli	A. Wilson	J. Scobie	Brown	Gelding	5	26	21	0	44.5
  1922	King Ingodas	A. Wilson	J. Scobie	Brown	Horse	4	32	23	0	45
  1921	Sister Olive	E. O Sullivan	J. Williams	Chesnut	Filly	3	25	24	0	44
  1920	Poitrel	K. Bracken	H.J. Robinson	Chesnut	Horse	6	23	1	0	63.5
  1919	Artilleryman	R. Lewis	P.T. Heywood	Brown	Colt	3	20	13	0	47
  1918	Nightwatch	W. Duncan	R. Bradfield	Bay	Gelding	5	27	24	0	42
  1917	Westcourt	W. McLachlan	J. Burton	Brown	Horse	5	20	12	0	53
  1916	Sasanof	F. Foley	M. Hobbs	Brown	Gelding	3	28	28	0	43.5
  1915	Patrobas	R. Lewis	C. Wheeler	Brown	Colt	3	24	19	0	47
  1914	Kingsburgh	K.G. Meddick	I. Foulsham	Chesnut	Colt	4	28	25	0	43.5
  1913	Posinatus	A. Shanahan	J. Chambers	Bay	Gelding	5	20	8	0	49
  1912	Piastre	A. Shanahan	R. O Connor	Bay	Horse	4	23	14	0	48.5
  1911	The Parisian	R. Cameron	C. Wheeler	Brown	Gelding	6	33	4	0	55
  1910	Comedy King	W. McLachlan	J. Lynch	Brown/Black	Horse	4	30	16	0	49.5
  1909	Prince Foote	W. McLachlan	F. McGrath	Bay	Colt	3	26	17	0	48
  1908	Lord Nolan	J. Flynn	E. A. Mao	Bay	Colt	3	22	24	0	42.5
  1907	Apologue	W. Evans	I. Earnshaw	Bay	Horse	5	19	18	0	48.5
  1906	Poseidon	T. Clayton	I. Earmshaw	Bay	Colt	3	21	15	0	47
  1905	Blue Spec	F. Bullock	W. Hickenbotham	Brown	Horse	6	27	12	0	51
  1904	Acrasia	T. Clayton	A. E. Wills	Bay	Mare	7	34	19	0	47
  1903	Lord Cardigan	N. Godby	A.E. Cornwell	Brown	Colt	3	24	22	0	41.5
  1902	The Victory	R. Lewis	R. Bradfield	Bay	Colt	4	22	3	0	56
  1901	Revenue	F. Dunn	H. Munro	Bay	Gelding	5	19	10	0	49
  1900	Clean Sweep	A. Richardson	James Scobie	Black	Colt	3	29	23	0	44.5
  1899	Merriwee	V. Turner	J.Wilson jun.	Brown	Colt	3	28	22	0	47
  1898	The Grafter	John Gough	W. Forrester	Brown	Gelding	5	28	4	0	58
  1897	Gaulus	S. Callinan	W. Forrester	Chesnut	Horse	6	29	20	0	48
  1896	Newhaven	H.J. Gardiner	W. Hickenbotham	Chesnut	Colt	3	25	11	0	50.5
  1895	Auraria	J. Stevenson	J.H. Hill	Brown	Filly	3	36	26	0	46.5
  1894	Patron	H.G. Dawes	R. Bradfield	Chesnut	Horse	4	28	4	0	52
  1893	Tarcoola	H. Cripps	J. Cripps	Bay	Horse	7	30	12	0	52.5
  1892	Glenloth	G. Robson	M. Carmody	Brown	Horse	5	35	13	0	50.5
  1891	Malvolio	G. Redfearn	J. Redfearn	Bay	Horse	4	34	9	0	52.5
  1890	Carbine	R. Ramage	W. Hickenbotham	Bay	Horse	5	39	1	0	66
  1889	Bravo	J. Anwin	T. Wilson	Bay	Horse	6	20	4	0	54
  1888	Mentor	M. O Brien	W. Hickenbotham	Bay	Horse	4	28	8	0	52
  1887	Dunlop	T. Sanders	J. Nicholson	Brown	Horse	5	18	4	0	52
  1886	Jarsenal	W. English	H. Rayner	Brown	Horse	4	28	20	0	46.5
  1885	Sheet Anchor	M. O Brien	T. Wilson	Brown	Horse	7	35	9	0	49.5
  1884	Malua	A. Robertson	Isaac Foulsham	Bay	Horse	5	24	2	0	61
  1883	Marini-Henri	J. Williamson	M. Fennelly	Bay	Colt	3	29	19	0	46.5
  1882	The Assyrian	C. Hutchens	J.E. Savill	Brown	Horse	5	35	10	0	50.5
  1881	Zulu	Jim Gough	T. Lamond	Black	Horse	4	33	39	0	36
  1880	Grand Flaneur	T. Hales	T. Brown	Bay	Colt	3	22	20	0	42.5
  1879	Darriwell	S. Cracknell	W.E. Dakin	Brown	Horse	5	27	11	0	46.5
  1878	Calamia	T. Brown	E. de Mestre	Bay	Horse	5	30	6	0	51.5
  1877	Chester	P. Pigott	E. de Mestre	Bay	Colt	3	33	19	0	43.5
  1876	Briseis	P. St. Albans	James Wilson	Brown	Filly	3	33		0	40
  1875	Wollomai	R. Batty	S. Moon	Bay	Horse	6	20		0	48
  1874	Haricot	P. Pigott	S. Harding	Bay	Gelding	4	18		0	41.5
  1873	Don Juan	W. Wilson	James Wilson	Bay	Horse	4	24		0	43.5
  1872	The Quack	W. Enderson	John Tait	Bay	Horse	6	22		0	49
  1871	The Pearl	J. Cavanagh	John Tait	Bay	Horse	5	23		0	46
  1870	Nimblefoot	J. Day	W. Lang	Bay	Gelding	7	28		0	38
  1869	Warrior	J. Morrison	R. Sevoir	Brown	Gelding	6	26		0	55.5
  1868	Glencoe	C. Stanley	John Tait	Chesnut	Horse	4	25		0	57.5
  1867	Tim Whiffler	J. Driscoll	E. de Mestre	Bay	Horse	5	27		0	56
  1866	The Barb	W. Davis	John Tait	Black	Colt	3	28		0	42
  1865	Toryboy	E. Cavanagh	P. Miley	Grey	Gelding	8	23		0	44.5
  1864	Lantern	S. Davis	S. Mahon	Brown	Colt	3	19		0	39.5
  1863	Banker	H. Chifney	Sam Waldock	Bay	Colt	3	7		0	33.5
  1862	Archer	J. Cutts	E. de Mestre	Bay	Horse	6	20		0	64.5
  1861	Archer	J. Cutts	E. de Mestre	Bay	Horse	5	17		0	60.5

• All time leading trainers

  12 – Bart Cummings
  5 – Etienne De Mestre
  5 – Lee Freedman
  4 – John Tait
  4 – Walter Hickenbotham
  4 – Richard Bradfield
  4 – Jim Scobie
  3 – George Hanlon
  3 – Frank McGrath

• All time leading jockeys

  Bobby Lewis

  33 starts, 4 wins, 4 seconds, one third, two fourths.

  Winning years: 1902, ’15, ’19, ’27.

  Harry White

  Rides: 24 starts, 4 wins, 2 seconds

  Winning years: 1974, ’75, ’78, ’79.

  Midge McLachlan

  14 starts, 3 firsts, 2 seconds, 1 third, 1 fourth

  Winning rides: 1909, ’10, ’17.

  Damian Oliver

  25 starts, 3 wins, 2 seconds, 1 fourth

  Winning rides: 1995, 2002, ’13.

  Glen Boss

  13 starts, 3 wins, 1 second, 1 third, 3 fourths

  Winning rides: 2003, ’04, ’05.

  Jack Purtell

  19 starts, 3 wins, 1 second, 1 third, 1 fourth

  Winning rides: 1947, ’53, ’54.

  Darby Munro

  18 starts, 3 wins

  Winning rides: 1934, ’44, ’46.

  Jimmy Johnson

  10 starts, 3 wins

  Winning rides: 1963, ’68, ’69.

  Roy Higgins

  18 starts, 2 wins, 2 seconds, 2 thirds, 4 fourths.

  Winning rides: 1965, ’67.

  Peter Cook

  Two wins, 2 seconds, 1 third, 1 fourth.

  Winning rides 1981, ’84.