Melbourne Cup facts
Sound like an expert by throwing these gems into the conversation today.
The Melbourne Cup will be heard and / or watched by an estimated 85% of Australians.
Total prizemoney for the event is $5.1 million with $3 milion going to the winner.
The record attendance at Flemington is 121,015 in 2000 ( expected to be broken today).
Today is the 145th running of the Cup.
The race record time is 3 minutes 16.3 seconds by Kingston Rule in 1990.
The Melbourne Cup is run over 3200m and is limited to 24 starters. From the first running in 1861 until the introduction of the metric system in 1972, the Melbourne Cup distance was two miles – which is 18.7 metres (20 yards, 1ft 6 in. ) longer than 3200m.
The biggest winning margin is 8 Lengths – Archer (1862) / Rain Lover (1968)
The biggest winning weight (65.5kg) Carbine. Makybe Diva has 58kg.
The first Cup was actually run on a Thursday.
The first trophy was a hand beaten gold watch and not a cup as we know it. A Cup was not awarded until 1916.
For the record, the Mole likes Lieca Falcon.
Graham Muldoon
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