Melbourne Cup
For the most recent occurrence of the race, see 2018 Melbourne Cup. Melbourne Cup Group I race Engraving of the finish line at the 1881 Melbourne Cup Location Flemington Racecourse Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Inaugurated 1861 (List of Melbourne Cup winners) Race type Thoroughbred – Flat racing Sponsor Lexus Website Flemington Racecourse Race information Distance 3,200 metres (2.0 miles) Surface Turf Track Left-handed Qualification Three-year-olds and up Weight Handicap Purse A$7,300,000 (2018) The Melbourne Cup is Australia's most well known annual Thoroughbred horse race. It is a 3,200 metre race for three-year-olds and over, conducted by the Victoria Racing Club on the Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Victoria as part of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival. It is the richest "two-mile" handicap in the world, and one of the richest turf races. The event starts at 3pm on the first Tuesday in Novembe...