By The Numbers
| Going the distance | State of affairs | Winning boxes | Last Winner from box | |||
| 1956-63 | 565 yards | 53 | Victoria | Box 1 | 17 | 2018 (My Redeemer) |
| 1964-71 | 555 yards | 12 | New South Wales | Box 2 | 10 | 2015 (Aussie Rocks) |
| 1972 | 507.5m | 2 | Queensland | Box 3 | 8 | 2019 (Whiskey Riot) |
| 1973-85 | 513m | 1 | South Australia | Box 4 | 8 | 2021 (Koblenz) |
| 1986-95 | 511m | 1 | Tasmanian | Box 5 | 6 | 2020 (Hard Style Rico) |
| 1996- | 515m | Box 6 | 4 | 2007 (Shanlyn Prince) | ||
| Box 7 | 8 | 2011 (Dyna Tron) | ||||
| Box 8 | 7 | 2014 (Dyna Villa) |
Facts & Figures
| Fastest time | 28.90, Hard Style Rico (2020) out of box 5 |
| Battle of the Sexes | Dogs 57, Bitches 11 |
| Punter’s Paradise | Favourites have won on 25 occasions |
| The long and short | Gold Grotto1/2 (1972) El Grand Senor $1.70 (2010) Classic Capri $25.90 (2001) |
| Legends of the lead | Graeme Bate (3 winners): Satan’s Shroud (1981), Fair Sentence (1989), Kantarn Bale (1999).
Darren McDonald (3 winners): Hallucinate (2004), Shanlyn Prince (2007), Surgeon (2008). Jason Thompson (3 winners): Light Of Fire (1994): Got A Moment (12) Black Magic Opal (13). |
| Second coming | Saskaview (1963, 3rd 1962), Cheltenham Lass (1966, 2nd 1965), Classic Capri (2001, 2nd 2000) |
| Biggest margin | 9 lengths (Fox Hunt, 1991) |
| Smallest margin | Neck (Chief Ranee 1960, Chris’ Dandy 1970, Black Aztec 1980, City Blitz 1995, Dyna Double One 2015.) |
| Just for the record | Hua (1988) set a new track record of 30.01 over 511m. Hard Style Rico (2020) set a new track record 28.90. |
| Supreme Being | Legendary stud dog Chariot Supreme sired the trifecta in 1990 – Highly Blessed, Singalong, Black Pirate |
| Tears of Joy | Another stud great, New Tears – himself a finalist in 1987 (fell) – sired the trifecta in 1994: Light of Fire, Zippity Magic, New Fox |
| Three cheers | Graeme Bate trained the trifecta in 1999 – Kantarn Bale, Devon Road, Flying Law
|
Timeline
1956 First Melbourne Cup staged at Sandown Park on the grass track over 565 yards under handicap conditions. First Prize 500 pound.
1962 Race worth £2,000. Race won by Saskagay, the first bitch to win the race
1964 A sand track is installed, resulting in the race distance being reduced to 555 yards. Winner $1000.
1966 First Melbourne Cup not conducted under handicap conditions. Cheltenham Lass wins the event after finishing second in 1965
1967 Neville Ballinger trains the Cup quinella with Swan Opal and Dollar Hunter
1970 Chris’ Dandy wins the Melbourne Cup for trainer Alex Kay, the fourth consecutive winner from New South Wales
1971 Prizemoney increased to $8000 to the winner.
1973 Race reduced to 513 metres.
1974 New Zealand-bred Kwik Metal upstages locals by claiming the 1974 Melbourne Cup after being bought for $30 as a pup
1975 Prizemoney increases to $11,500 to the winner. Dynamic Dean is later crowned the 1975 Greyhound of the Year, the first of seven Melbourne Cup winners to receive the honour
1978 Prizemoney increased to $35,000 to the winner. Hollywood star Robert Stack presents trophy
1979 Hollywood starlet Elke Sommer presents trophy
1980 25th Melbourne Cup presented by Greg Norman. Sandown gives away a Mercedes to a patron
1986 Race distance reduced to 511 metres following construction of Henry Harrison Grandstand
1990 Prizemoney increased to $40,000 to the winner
1991 Prizemoney increased to $50,000 to the winner
1992 Schweppes begins Cup sponsorship. Master Giant wins the Cup, becoming the fourth consecutive winner to take out the Shepparton Cup-Melbourne Cup double
1995 Prizemoney increased to $80,000 to the winner. Race distance increased to 515m following construction of new Sandown circuit
1996 Prizemoney increased to $100,000 to the winner
1998 Rapid Journey adds the Melbourne Cup to his Adelaide Cup, Perth Cup, Golden Easter Egg, National Sprint Championship and Topgun wins
1999 Graeme Bate trains the trifecta, winning his third Melbourne Cup with Kantarn Bale
2002 Prizemoney increased to $140,000 to the winner
2004 Prizemoney increased to $150,000 to the winner
2005 Closing Argument wins the 50th running of the Cup. Bonshaw Boy completes the quinella for trainer Cameron Taylor
2006 Betty’s Angel completes the Group 1 ADVANCE Sapphire Crown – Schweppes Melbourne Cup double, setting a new race record of 29.51 in the process
2007 Shanlyn Prince puts in a masterful display of speed becoming trainer Darren McDonald’s second cup winner in 29.60 less than a length from the race record. The Club announces a prizemoney increase for the 2008 cup with the winner taking home a staggering $175,000.
2008 Prizemoney increased to $175,000 to the winner. WA chaser Surgeon wins the cup in a sensation after marring the leader Hanify’s Impact in the last 20 metres. The winner was Darren McDonald’s third Cup success and second in succession.
2009 Popular husband and wife team Jenny and Jon Roberts were overjoyed with emotion when their hard chasing black dog Lord Ducal took out the cup in a fast 29.53. The Bombastic Shiraz sprinter was from a long line of the Roberts own breed and he defeated a star studded line up to land the big prize.
2010 El Grand Senor secured the third Group 1 victory of his stellar career with a brilliant win in 2010 Cup. Backed into $1.70 favoritism he would start one of the shortest priced favourites in the race’s 55 year history, El Grand Senor sent a shudder through the large crowd as he was beaten out of the boxes by Dee Winter and Dyna Obelia. However the leviathan 39kg son of Where’s Pedro showed a tremendous turn of foot, accelerating through a narrow gap to find the lead through the first turn and open up a race winning margin down the back straight. El Grand Senor then powered to the line in 29.55, defeating Symmetry by 6.25 lengths with Dee Winter a further two lengths away third.
2011 Andrea Dailly claimed her first Solo Melbourne Cup at Sandown Park when Dyna Tron led all the way to win Australia’s most prestigious race in a race record 29.21 seconds. In front of one of the largest crowds seen in recent years, Dyna Tron ($4.20) jumped brilliantly to lead Shereen Bale ($3.50) through the first turn and soon established a four length margin entering the back straight. Shereen Bale chased valiantly to trim the final margin to 2¾ lengths, but could do no more as Dyna Tron etched his name into greyhound racing history.
2012 In an extraordinary leap in prizemoney the Cup became the undisputed richest Greyhound race on the planet when the club announced it would increase the first prize to a whopping $350,000 to the winner. With subsequent place money adjusted as well it brought the total race stake to half a million dollars. The numbers would have only been a pipe dream 10 years earlier but progress within the industry in Victoria had seen a rapid development in all areas of the sport. Diminutive chaser Got A Moment created history when she claimed victory in the shadows of the post to record a memorable win. Trained by leading Victorian mentor Jason Thompson Got A Moment only arrived in the Thompson kennel eight weeks before the cup. She had been sent down from Queensland by owner/breeder Dianna Buxton on the recommendation of mutual friend, Reg Kay. Thompson knew from the moment she arrived he had something special.
Got A Moment took the lead down the back straight and led for the run home with champion Queenslander and race favourite Glen Gallon getting clear and looking like the winner but she wasn’t to be denied and held off the challenge to record a fairy tale win for her excited connections.
2013 Black Magic Opal cemented his place amongst the nation’s great sprinters with an emphatic all-of-the-way victory in the 2013 TAB Melbourne Cup. Sent to the boxes an easing even money favourite, the son of Magic Sprite began well to lead clearly through the first turn and from there was never challenged, charging to a 2.5 length victory in 29.37 seconds. Purchased for a reported six figure sum, Black Magic Opal proved a most astute acquisition and re-paid his connections faith by claiming greyhound racing’s biggest prize.
2014 Dyna Villa etched his name into greyhound racing folklore with a brilliant win in the 2014 $600,000 Group 1 TAB Melbourne Cup. Unbeaten in three starts from box 8, Dyna Villa began brilliantly to cross the stellar field and lead through the first turn. As the rest of the pack settled Dyna Villa shot clear, opening a six length break over his rivals down the back straight in what proved to be a race winning break, stopping the clock in a slick 29.36 seconds. First prized increased to $420,000.
2015 Dyna Double One ($4.10) upstaged his kennel mate Fernando Bale in what will long be remembered as one of the greatest TAB Melbourne Cups ever run. Seeking an unprecedented ninth group 1 title in what was widely touted to be his final start, Fernando Bale ($1.40) stunned everyone when for the first time since July, he missed the start and was slowly away from the boxes. However he soon showed his trademark dazzling turn of foot, and with a huge roar from the crowd, charged through the first turn four-wide before crossing the field and leading by three lengths entering the back straight. Dyna Double One had similarly began only fairly before railing strongly through the first turn and setting off in pursuit of his more fancied kennel mate, setting up the race that greyhound fans everywhere had longed to see. With their rivals left behind, the race became a match race between two of the greats of the modern era. Dyna Double One closed in on Fernando Bale turning for home only for the champ to respond and in a thrilling run to the line, Dyna Double One finally nabbed his rival to land the world’s richest greyhound race by a neck in a new race record time of 29.17.
2016 Ando’s Mac caused a major upset in claiming the 2016 TAB Melbourne Cup. Trained by Jason Mackay, Ando’s Mac became the first New South Wales trained greyhound since the year 2000 to win the world’s richest greyhound race. Ando’s Mac ($12.90) began fairly but was afforded early room which allowed him to accelerate quickly and lead through the first turn. He opened a two-length margin over Barton Bale down the back straight before withstanding a late charge by the well supported Jesaulenko ($5.10) to claim the cup by ¼ of a length in 29.48. South Australian champion Worm Burner ($8.70) flashed home for third a further ½ length behind. Despite drawing box 5, Mackay was quietly confident his first TAB Melbourne Cup finalist was a winning chance in the sport’s showcase event.
2017 Aston Dee Bee ($2.40) secured his place in greyhound racing folklore after a brilliant victory in the $600,000 group 1 TAB Melbourne Cup. The hulking 36kg speedster took full advantage of his inside draw, railing powerfully through the first turn to take a lead he wouldn’t relinquish, charging to the line 3½ lengths clear of the fast finishing Chasin’ Crackers ($16.40) in 29.36 and claim the world’s richest greyhound race. Having won 10 of his previous 14 starts with those four placings being at group level, Aston Dee Bee’s win came as no surprise to many punters. He was sent to the boxes the $2.40 favourite after qualifying fastest with a brilliant heat win in 29.12 and was unbeaten in four starts from box 1 at Sandown Park.
2018 My Redeemer gave David Geall his biggest thrill in greyhound racing by winning the TAB Melbourne Cup at Sandown Park last night. In one of the most eagerly anticipated editions of the world’s greatest greyhound race, My Redeemer began cleanly from box 1 but was headed by favourite Black Opium to the first turn. My Redeemer held his position on the rail and after a brief bumping duel, he emerged a length clear entering the back straight. From there he was never challenged, doubling his margin off the back straight and powering to the line to register a brilliant 4½ victory in 29.38.
2019 Star sprinter Whiskey Riot broke a Group 1 jinx – and raced into greatness – taking out the 2019 Group 1 TAB Melbourne Cup. Whiskey Riot capitalised on another crack at G1 glory, having finished second to his nemesis Hooked On Scotch in the Adelaide Cup, second to Sennachie in the Maturity Classic, and third to Get It Gizmo in the Topgun. He was also third to Hooked On Scotch in the G3 Shootout.
Based at Rowsley (just out of Bacchus Marsh), his trainer Anthony Azzopardi was lost for words: “Unbelievable. I didn’t know if he won or not. Words can’t describe it. This is what I’ve been working my whole life for. Words can’t describe it,” he said. Azzopardi also dedicated the win to his late father: “This is a whole family thing. This is for my father. I wish he was here but he’s not. But I know he’ll be watching down.”
Whiskey Riot ($5.90) led throughout to defeat outsider Western Envoy ($30.80) by just under a length, with Hooked On Scotch ($2.10F) – who broke the track record in a heat – around a half-length away third in 29.44sec.
2020 A greyhound racing dream came true for Luckie Karabitsakos when his brilliant sprinter Hard Style Rico unforgettably smashed the Sandown Park 515m track record. Hard Style Rico overcame box five against an all-star field in a sensational all-the-way victory, clocking 28.909s. Due to Covid restrictions there were on 12 patrons on course plus staff.
2021 Superstar speedster Koblenz was born to win a Group 1 TAB Melbourne Cup and Australia’s – make that the world’s – best bred greyhound did just that with a sensational front-running exhibition at Sandown Park in a time of 29.40.
Koblenz is a son of 2015 Melbourne Cup runner-up turned champion sire Fernando Bale and Up Hill Jill, a dual G1 winner and 2017 Melbourne Cup finalist, trained by David Geall and bred by wife Rose. It was Lara-based Geall’s second Melbourne Cup triumph in four years, having won the world’s greatest race in 2018 with My Redeemer.
2022 Yachi Bale staged an incredible performance to win the Cup for trainers Mark and Lisa Delbridge when he nailed Fernando Mick right on the line to win the Cup from box 4. It was the Wheeler family’s fifth triumph in the great race.
2023 Aussie Rocks has raced himself into Melbourne Cup folklore with a heart-stopping victory in the group 1 showpiece at Sandown Park on Saturday night.In a race that had more twists and turns than a cheap garden hose, it was ultimately Aussie Rocks which stood tallest, landing the $650,000-to-the-winner decider to hand trainer Geoff Mitchell his biggest moment in 45 years of greyhound training. For Mitchell, it was Melbourne Cup glory at his second time of trying, having qualified his former star sprinter Remo Rubik for the final in 2009. “Just totally unbelievable – completely lost for words,” Mitchell told Racing.com directly after the race.
Honour Roll
| Year | Winner | Trainer | Time | Year | Winner | Trainer | Time |
| 1956 | Rocketeer | E. Patterson | 30 6/16 | 1989 | Fair Sentence | Graeme Bate | 30.19 |
| 1957 | Rookie Rebel | Wally Hooper | 30 14/16 | 1990 | Highly Blessed | Lorraine Ferremi | 30.53 |
| 1958 | Marine Jet | Gavin Fraser | 30 9/16 | 1991 | Fox Hunt (SA) | Peter Jovanovic | 30.50 |
| 1959 | Capital King | Fred Garbutt | 30 9/16 | 1992 | Master Giant | Peter Akathiotis | 30.30 |
| 1960 | Chief Ranee | Max Hammond | 30 13/16 | 1993 | Silver Chisel (NSW) | John Fleming | 30.25 |
| 1961 | Bybrae | Arthur Bate | 30 12/16 | 1994 | Light Of Fire | Jason Thompson | 30.05 |
| 1962 | Saskagay | Arthur Ludlow | 30 8/16 | 1995 | City Blitz | Peter Giles | 30.06 |
| 1963 | Saskaview | Arthur Ludlow | 30 10/16 | 1996 | Henry Hand (NSW) | Dennis Dean | 29.86 |
| 1964 | Rocket Streak | Fred Ladd | 30 6/16 | 1997 | Roanokee (QLD) | Roger Green | 29.96 |
| 1965 | Kinta’s Son | Bob Bowman | 30 10/16 | 1998 | Rapid Journey (NSW) | Jane Carruthers | 29.91 |
| 1966 | Cheltenham Lass | Paul Hogan | 30 10/16 | 1999 | Kantarn Bale | Graeme Bate | 29.73 |
| 1967 | Swan Opal (NSW) | Neville Ballinger | 30 9/16 | 2000 | Go Wild Teddy (NSW) | Mark Bell | 29.73 |
| 1968 | Mr. Spot (NSW) | Terry Rowlings | 30 9/16 | 2001 | Classic Capri | Judy Hayley | 29.65 |
| 1969 | Millimsimbi (NSW) | Stan Cleverley | 30 7/16 | 2002 | Excite Ability | Len Poore | 29.77 |
| 1970 | Chris’s Dandy (NSW) | Alex Kay | 31 1/16 | 2003 | Bombastic Shiraz | Darren Cairns | 29.82 |
| 1971 | Gerard The Gent | Herb Siakew | 30 7/16 | 2004 | Hallucinate | Darren McDonald | 29.73 |
| 1972 | Gold Grotto | Ed Tucker | 30 6/16 | 2005 | Closing Argument | Cameron Taylor | 29.94 |
| 1973 | New Mariner | Ray Jennings | 31.49 | 2006 | Betty’s Angel | Paul Bartolo | 29.51 |
| 1974 | Kwik Metal | Cap Abbott | 31.02 | 2007 | Shanlyn Prince | Darren McDonald | 29.60 |
| 1975 | Dynamic Dean | Sandra Hogan | 31.32 | 2008 | Surgeon | Darren McDonald | 29.87 |
| 1976 | Carrington Jade | Ken Murphy | 30.70 | 2009 | Lord Ducal | Jon Roberts | 29.53 |
| 1977 | Mile Post | Tony Collins | 30.94 | 2010 | El Grand Senor | Caroline Jones | 29.55 |
| 1978 | Tangaloa | Joe Hili | 30.97 | 2011 | Dyna Tron | Andrea Dailly | 29.21 |
| 1979 | Acclaim Star (NSW) | Bill Fletcher | 30.50 | 2012 | Got A Moment | Jason Thompson | 29.37 |
| 1980 | Black Aztec (NSW) | Harry Sarkis | 30.74 | 2013 | Black Magic Opal | Jason Thompson | 29.37 |
| 1981 | Satan’s Shroud | Graeme Bate | 30.88 | 2014 | Dyna Villa | Jenny Hunt | 29.36 |
| 1982 | Kid Scandal | Arthur Garrett | 30.70 | 2015 | Dyna Double One | Andrea Dailly | 29.17 |
| 1983 | Lady Lilly | Colin Kelly | 30.86 | 2016 | Ando’s Mac | Jason Mackay | 29.48 |
| 1984 | Rustic Venture (QLD) | Peter Denaro | 30.92 | 2017 | Aston Dee Bee | Sonia Thompson | 29.36 |
| 1985 | Sydney Dingaan | Ned Bryant | 30.44 | 2018 | My Redeemer | David Geall | 29.38 |
| 1986 | Legendary Kid (NSW) | Jim Coleman | 30.62 | 2019 | Whiskey Riot | Anthony Azzopardi | 29.44 |
| 1987 | Speedy Mick | Joe Schroeders | 30.52 | 2020 | Hard Style Rico | Luckie Karabitsakos | 28.90 |
| 1988 | Hua | Roy Symes | 30.01 | 2021 | Koblenze | David Geall | 29.40 |
| 2022 | Yachi Bale | Mark Delbridge | 29.21 | 2023 | Aussie Rocks | Geoff Mitchell | 29.55 |