Melbourne Cup

The Melbourne Cup is a group 1 greyhound race which is run over 515m at Sandown Park in November each year.

It is often regarded as the biggest event on the greyhound calendar, with its $420,000 winner’s cheque making it the richest greyhound race in the world.

The series consists of heats and a final, with the best 64 greyhounds contesting the qualifiers and the winners progressing through to the decider.

The most recent edition of the Melbourne Cup was taken out by Aston Dee Bee for owner Ray Borda and trainer Seona Thompson.

Get free bets to place on this year’s Group 1 Melbourne Cup exclusive to readers of Australian Racing Greyhound.

Betting on the Group 1 Melbourne Cup

Only the best of the best compete in the Melbourne Cup series, making it one of the most anticipated races for enthusiasts and punters.

Naturally, a high-class line-up attracts plenty of betting interest as it showcases the best sprinting talent greyhound racing has to offer – proven, explosive chasers doing what they do best.

With all of the focus on the race, betting pools are usually bigger, which in turn results in a more lucrative winning dividend if you are skilful enough to pick the winner.

Leading bookmakers know how popular the Melbourne Cup is and many of them now offer all-in markets for the winner of the final in the weeks leading up to the heats. These prices often offer plenty of value.

Additionally, there are also fixed odds prices for both the heats and final once the fields and box draws have been drawn – giving punters the chance to shop around and find the top odds about their selected competitor.

Melbourne Cup Bookmakers

Group 1 Melbourne Cup – history

The Melbourne Cup was first held in 1956 and staged as a handicap when won by Rocketeer (Rocket Jet x Whispering Lass Jan ’55) who collected £500 for his connections. It was run as a handicap race until 1964 when Rocket Streak (Chief Zephyr x Rocket Sue Oct ’62) scored a big victory from box one.

The first bitch to win the race was Saskagay (Sunview x Byam Rose Sep ’60), which won the 1962 edition over 565 yards in 30.80 – collecting £2,000.

The 1974 race was a rags to riches story, with the New Zealand-bred Kwik Metal (Gabriel Mist x Metal Joy Sep ’72) saluting after being purchased as a puppy for just $30.

In 1986 the race was reduced to 511m (having been run over 513m since 1973) following the reconstruction of Sandown Park. It only stayed at this distance for nine years, being run at 515m (the current distance) for the first time in 1995.

The first prize money, which had increased periodically since the inauguration of the race, hit $100,000 for the first time in 1996. Two years later, the race was taken out by one of the best greyhounds the sport has seen, Rapid Journey (Amerigo Magic x Miss Courtney May ’95), which added the race to his impressive CV including the Adelaide Cup, the Perth Cup, the Golden Easter Egg, the National Sprint Championship and the Topgun.

In 1999, now-disgraced trainer Graeme Bate prepared his third winner of the Melbourne Cup when Kantarn Bale (Light Of Fire x Jindara Bale Feb ’98) defeated two of his kennel mates to give Bate the trifecta.

In 2004 prize money grew to $150,000. In 2005 Closing Argument (Exceptional x Maddy Shiraz Nov ’03) defeated Bonshaw Boy (Bob’s One x Major Break Jun ’03) to give trainer Cameron Taylor the quinella.

Betty’s Angel (Brett Lee x Leprechaun Yap Nov ’04) defeated her litter sister Miss Mini Mouse in the 2006 final, setting a new 29.51 race record in the process and completing the Sapphire Crown – Melbourne Cup double.

The most controversial running was in 2008 when Surgeon (Primo Uno x Bella’s Angel Apr ’05) was allowed to start in the race despite many believing he had eased when winning his heat the week prior. His naughty antics were on display in the feature final, marring Hanify’s Impact (Collision x Miss Hanify May ’06) across the line en route to giving Darren McDonald his third Melbourne Cup win in five years.

El Grand Senor (Where’s Pedro x Elgrando Gold Apr ’08) won the 2010 Melbourne Cup – collecting his third group 1 trophy. The hatrick of wins at the highest level would later earn him Sandown Greyhound of the Year, Victorian Greyhound of the Year and Australian Greyhound of the Year titles.

Leading trainer Andrea Dailly won her first Melbourne Cup in 2011 when Dyna Tron (Collision x Gold Rush Bale Feb ’09) saluted. He was one of four finalists for Dailly and one of seven finalists for leviathan owner/breeder Paul Wheeler. The same year prize money was increased to $350,000 to the winner.

Jason Thompson scored back to back wins in the Melbourne Cup in 2012-2013. Got A Moment (Collision x Splitting Hairs Feb ’10) took out the race in 2012 when recording a slick 29.37, followed by Black Magic Opal (Magic Sprite x Awesome Opal May ’11) which took out the next edition in identical time.

Group 1 Melbourne Cup – honour roll