An Exhaustive Guide to Melbourne Cup Horses 2024

The Melbourne Cup unites horse racing enthusiasts around the world. The annual horse race marked as one of the biggest days on the bookmakers` and fans` calendars draws impressive crowds, with 90,000 expected to tune in to watch the Melbourne Cup 2024. The four-day race is part of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival and is set on the first Tuesday in November at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, with international runners and local horses racing 3,200m for a total top prize money and pool of $8 million.

In this comprehensive guide, we`ll delve deeper into the ins and outs, cover the potential winners among horses running in Melbourne Cup, discuss the top betting tips and tricks that will help you maximize your possible winnings, and answer the most requested questions, like how many horses in the Melbourne Cup, where to watch it, and which horses are running in the Melbourne Cup in the first place.

Brief History of the Melbourne Cup

Although the Melbourne Cup is widely known to occur on the first Tuesday in November, the events took place on different dates before 1875. The Melbourne Cup dates back to the 19th century, with the earliest edition of the race being held in 1861 with the winners receiving prizes like a gold watch and cash purse; it wasn`t until 1865 that the organizers awarded the first official trophy cup.

The event wasn`t without its share of controversies, with the 1865 owner of the winning horse Tory Boy, Mr. Marshall, calling the English-made trophy a monstrosity, which he promptly resold to the Flemington Hunt Club. Over the years, the styles of the cup evolved, culminating in the classic three-handled loving cup design in 1919.

In 1866, the cup was won by The Barb, also known as the `Black Demon,` a feisty black horse that threw off the rider before the start of the first race. The horse dominated Australian racing for a time, evidenced by 16 wins from 23 races, earning him a spot in the Australian Racing Hall of Fame. Black Demon is not the only distinguished contender in the Melbourne Cup history. Phar Lap is the most famous horse to participate in the event and is considered the greatest thoroughbred to have raced on the continent. Phar Lap is exhibited in the Museum of Victoria in Melbourne.

Melbourne Cup 2024: Dates and Location

The major handicap horserace that stops the nation is a staple of the Australian sporting calendar and occurs on Tuesday, 5th November, at 3 p.m. local time. So, if you`re in Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney, and Hobart, the race starts at 3 p.m. AEDT; the fans from Darwin should tune in at 1.30 p.m., Brisbane — at 2 p.m., and Adelaide — at 2.30 p.m. You can watch the broadcast on Channel Nine, Racing.com on Kayo, or Foxtel.

The four-day race is hosted by the Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne. Another of the most asked questions is: how many horses in Melbourne Cup? The event features 24 local and international runners competing for a total of $8 million, with 1st place taking $4.4 million, 2nd — $1.1 million, 3rd — $550,000, 4th — $350,000, 5th — $230,000, and 6th-12th — $160,000.

Top 10 Favourites: Profile of Local and International Horses and Melbourne Cup Barrier Draw

Without further ado, let`s take a look at the profiles of the five Melbourne Cup horses predicted to win the Melbourne Cups this year, from the most likely to the least likely contenders to grab the main trophy, and answer the most requested question: which horses are running the Melbourne Cup? Here`s a look at the top five Melbourne Cup horse profiles, as well as the Melbourne Cup barrier draw.

Vauban (FR)

• 7yo gelding — Galiway x Waldfest
• Jockey: William Buick — 55.5kg
• Trainer: Willie Mullins
• Barrier: 11

Willie Mullins` seven-year-old gelding is not new to the Melbourne Cup; last year, the horse flopped badly, finishing 14th behind Without a Fight. With such poor performance, why does it lead the list of the horses running in the Melbourne Cup as a new favorite? The answer lies in the solid summer of performances, where Vauaban raced distances from 2,816m to 4,023m, bouncing back fitter than ever and winning the Group 2 Lonsdale Cup (3,319m). Although there are reasons not to trust the gelding, keep in mind that the horse never finished worse than fourth place, which makes it a strong contender for the first place among the horses of Melbourne Cup.

Circle of Fire (GB)

• 5yo gelding — Almanzor x Fiery Sunset
• Jockey: Mark Zahra — 54.5kg
• Trainer: Ciaron Maher
• Barrier: 24

After winning the Sydney Cup on Day 2 of the Championships, Circle of Fire, a feisty five-year-old gelding, is among the top five favorites in the Melbourne Cup horses list. With the Zahra-Maher team (the Sydney Cup 3,200 triumph) preparing the Circle of Fire for the final field of the event, the gelding has a decent chance of landing in the top five.

Buckaroo (GB)

• 6yo gelding — Fastnet Rock x Roheryn
• Jockey: Joao Moreira — 54.5kg
• Trainer: Chris Waller
• Barrier: 21

One of the other horses in year`s Melbourne Cup predicted to win big is Buckaroo, a six-year-old gelding that already made a name for himself; the horse won the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes and Underwood Stakes. Trained by Chris Waller, the horse showed a good performance at the Caulfield Cup (2nd place) and is projected to land in the top three horses in the Melbourne Cup. On the other hand, Buckaroo had never raced distances over 2,400 m, which may be a handicap.

Warp Speed (JPN)

• 6yo horse — Drefong x Deep Loveg
• Jockey: Akira Sugawara — 54.5kg
• Trainer: Noburu Takagi
• Barrier: 3

The six-year-old Warp Speed is respected for his best Japanese form, including a fifth finish in the Tenno Sho (over 3,200 m). Although the horse has never won the Group 1 race, Warp Speen boasts some staying abilities that will be a plus at the Melbourne Cup 2024 horses race, so bookmakers expect to see Warp Speed in the top five.

5. Okita Soushi (IRE)

• 7 yo gelding — Galileo x Amicus
• Jockey: Jamie Kah — 51.5kg
• Trainer: Ciaron Maher
• Barrier: 10

Previously trained by Joseph O`Brien, Okita Soushi managed to finish 11th in the Melbourne Cup field of horses 2023. Despite some early stumbles at the Caulfield Cup, the horse boasts a good time at the Moonee Valley Golf Cup (2,500 m). Transferred to the Cup-winning trainer Ciaron Maher, the seven-year-old gelding is getting better with each race and teamed up with jockey Jamie Kah, Okita Soushi is among the favorites of the 2024 Melbourne Cup horses.

Melbourne Cup Bet Types

With thousands of people tuning in each year to experience the power and elegance of the horses in the Melbourne Cup Horse 2024, why not spice up the experience and place a bet to keep you on the edge of your seat? In addition to understanding Melbourne Cup horses odds, you also must know the different wager types available at the event. Here`s a quick compilation of betting types to help you hit the ground running on the Melbourne Cup day.

• Winner: Predict the first horse over the line.
• Exacta: Guess the first two horses to reach the finish.
• Quinella: Bet on the runner-up and the winner.
• Trifecta: As the name suggests, predict the first three horses to cross the finish line.
• First Four: Just like a trifecta, but guess the first four horses to reach the finish.
• Place: If the preferred horse places top three, win the bet.
• Each-Way: This bet type combines two separate bets in one, where you need to back your horse for both the place and the win.

Melbourne Cup Betting Tips and Tricks

Racehorse betting requires following the news, checking updates, understanding the sports, and, of course, being in the good graces of Lady Luck. Here, we will take a brief look at the most popular Melbourne Cup 2024 horses tips and tricks that will help you maximize your winning potential.

• Do the Research. Before placing your bets on the Melbourne Cup race horses, you need to know whether the preferred horse performed well previously and if it won at that distance before. Why is the length of the race important? If the horse has no history of running a longer race, you can`t predict how it will perform, making it a risky choice. In general, comparing the horse’s previous year`s performance among the Melbourne Cup horses 2023 or other big races of the year is one of the most obvious and practical tactics punters and fans use to predict the future winner.
• Bet of Favorites. Although betting on the underdog increases your potential winnings, choosing a favorite from the Melbourne Cup 2024 horses list is typically a safe choice.
• Select the Right Wager. Choosing the right type is part of the success when wagering on horses for Melbourne Cup wins. Before placing a bet, check the Melbourne Cup horses and odds of winning. If a horse is predicted to win by the punters, your payout will be much lower than when wagering on the underdog. Here`s a tip: if you aren`t a horse racing pro, bet on the horse with higher odds that might come second or third.
• Set a Bankroll. Establishing a bankroll — a specific amount of money dedicated to betting on Melbourne Cup horses in 2024 — is crucial for maintaining healthy gambling habits. Avoid chasing losses, winning streaks, and other gambler`s fallacies, and always stick to your bankroll to avoid financial problems.
• Don`t Overbet. As a rule of thumb, don`t bet more than one percent of your bankroll on any one-horse race. If you take your betting seriously, make sure that all of your bets are calculated, not impulsive.
• Pay Close Attention to Odds. The Melbourne Cup horses and odds are among the most important factors to consider. When picking the likely-to-win horse, you need to analyze large swathes of data. Unless you have a racehorse mate who knows all the ins and outs of the sport, use a shortcut, look at the column with the odds, and go for the smallest number.

Melbourne Cup 2024 Horses List: Results

With the Melbourne Cup horses 2024 race behind, here`s a look at the top twelve finalists:

1. Knight`s Choice
2. Warp Speed
3. Okita Soushi
4. Zardozi
5. Absurde
6. Circle of Fire
7. Fancy Man
8. Land Legend
9. Buckaroo
10. Kovalica
11. Vauban
12. Onesmoothoperator

About the Melbourne Cup Winner: Knight`s Choice was trained by Sheila Laxon, the first woman to win a Caulfield Cup-Melbourne Cup double with Ethereal in 2001. Previously finished fifth in the Bendigo Cup (2,400 m), Knights Choice won the 2024 Melbourne Cup, despite the punters` predictions, as the five-year-old gelding`s Melbourne Spring form wasn`t top-notch. Although Knight’s Choice wasn’t even close to heading the Melbourne Cup horses list 2024 of favourites (in fact, the horse was listed at $101.00 odds of winning among the other horses in Melbourne Cup 2024), the sweeping victory caught fans and punters off guard.