CLN | ISSUE 03 | OCT-JAN ‘16
SOME CUP FACTS
MOST WINS...
•
Six grey horses have won the Cup including Subzero in 1992.
...by a horse
•
World War I and II did not stop the Melbourne Cup from going ahead.
3 wins | Makybe Diva (‘03, ‘04, ‘05). 2 wins | Think Big (‘74, ‘75). 2 wins | Rain Lover (‘68, ‘69). 2 wins | Peter Pan (‘32, ‘34). 2 wins | Archer (‘61, ‘62).
•
No horse has won from barrier 18 since barriers were introduced in 1924.
...by a jockey
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The saddlecloth numbers 4 and 12 have won the Cup a record 11 times. Lucky numbers!
...by a trainer
In any given year, there are about 32,000 active racehorses in Australia. More than half of them have never won a race.
...by an owner
•
| SPORT
sports calendar OCT to JAN ‘16.
AFL
Grand Final | MCG, Melbourne | 3 Oct
4 wins | Bobby Lewis 4 wins | Harry White
NRL
12 wins | Bart Cummings 5 wins | Etienne de Mestre 5 wins | Lee Freedman 4 wins | John Tait 4 wins | Etienne de Mestre 4 wins | Dato Tan Chin Nam 4 wins | Lloyd Williams
Grand Final | ANZ stadium | 4 Oct
Rugby + wallabies fixtures Wallabies vs Eng. | Twickenham, Lon | 3 Oct Wallabies vs Wales | Twickenham, Lon | 10 Oct Quarter Finals | Lon | 17-18 Oct Semi Finals | Twickenham, Lon | 24-25 Oct Final | Twickenham, Lon | 31 Oct
Cricket PRIZE MONEY
The total prize money for last years race was $6,400,000 (AU), not forgetting the trophies valued at $125,000. Only the first 10 past the post receive prize money, with the winner being paid $3.3 million, and tenth place $115,000. Prize money is distributed to the connections of each horse in the ratio of 85% to the owner, 10% to the trainer and 5% to the jockey. Not bad for a single event.
HISTORICAL TIMELINE A new trophy is struck each year and becomes the property of the winning owner. In the event of a dead heat a second cup is on hand. The current trophy is made by Hardy Brothers from 34 pieces of gold metal hand beaten for over 200 hours. Close inspection of the inside of the Cup will reveal small hammer imprints. As of 2008, the trophy values were increased and the Cup now contains 1.65 kg of 18-carat gold valuing the trophy at $125,000. The winning trainer and jockey also receive a miniature replica of the cup (since 1973) and the strapper is awarded the Tommy Woodcock Trophy, named after the strapper of Phar Lap.
OTHER RECORDS Fastest time: 3.16.30 Kingston Rule (1990). Heaviest weight: 66kgs, Carbine (1890). Favourites record: 34 of 150 have won.
1869
The Victorian Racing Club introduced the 4 day Spring Racing Carnival format.
1876
The youngest jockey to win was Peter St. Albans on Briseis aged 13 (officially).
1896
The Melbourne Cup was first filmed.
1925
The first radio broadcast was made by the Australian Broadcasting company.
1948
The photo finish camera was first used, but was later found incorrectly aligned.
1958
The first Cup start from starting stalls.
1985
The first sponsored Cup and the first million dollar Cup with $650K for the winner.
1987
First female jockey to ride in the cup was Maree Lyndon on Argonaut Style.
2005
Makybe Diva became the only horse so far to win the Melbourne Cup 3 times.
2010
150th anniversary. Americain becomes the first French-trained horse to win the race.
2011
French based horse Dunaden wins from Red Cadeaux in the closest finish ever.
2015
Is 2015 set for another historical event?
Aus VS NZ | 1st Test | GABBA | 5-9 Nov Aus VS NZ | 2nd Test | WACA | 13-17 Nov Aus VS NZ | 3rd Test | Ade. Oval | 27 Nov- 1 Dec Aus VS W.I | 1st Test | Hobart | 10-14 Dec Aus VS W.I | 2nd Test | MCG | 26-30 Dec Aus VS W.I | 3rd Test | SCG | 3-7 Jan Aus VS Ind | 1st ODI | WACA | 12 Jan Aus VS Ind | 2nd ODI | GABBA | 15 Jan Aus VS Ind | 3rd ODI | MCG | 17 Jan Aus VS Ind | 4th ODI | Manuka Oval | 20 Jan Aus VS Ind | 5th ODI | SCG | 23 Jan Big Bash League Final | 24 Jan
Tennis
Australian Open | Melbourne | 18-31 Jan
Motor sport V8
Bathurst 1000 Mount Panorama | 8-11 Oct Gold Coast 600 | 23-25 Oct ITM 500 | Auckland | 6-8 Nov Phillip Island Super Sprint | 20-22 Nov Sydney 500 | 4-6 Dec
Motorbikes
Australia Moto GP | Philip Island | 16-18 Oct
Swimming
Aust. Short Course Championships | Syd | 5 Nov
Surfing
Quiksilver Pro France | Landes | 6-17 Oct
Moche Rip Curl Pro Portugal | Peniche | 20-31 Oct
Billabong Pipe Masters | Hawaii | 8-20 Dec
Horse racing
Caulfied Cup | Caulfield | 17 Oct Cox Plate | Mooney Valley | 24 Oct Victoria Derby | Flemington | 31 Oct Melbourne Cup | Flemington | 3 Nov
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