The Caulfield Cup is a Melbourne Racing Club Group 1 thoroughbred horse race held in October. (Photo credit: Melbourne Racing Club).
The iconic BMW Caulfield Cup Carnival attracts not just world-class horses and loads of celebrities, but also offers race-goers a number of boutique hospitality options, insights into the world of fashion, and interesting entertainment events that are sure to make the experience totally unforgettable.
The flagship event, the AU$3.1 million Group One BMW Caulfield Cup is the richest turf handicap race in the world, and its 2400 metres attracts a genuinely global crowd each year. For those who are not able to attend the race in person, a good amount of trustworthy bookmakers allow for Caulfield Cup betting markets online, so you can take part in the fun in this manner if you want!
A Meeting Place for Champions
With the nine-carat golden trophy worth AU$155 000 on its own, this race attracts its fair share of champions, and many have gone on to win the race over the course of its dazzling 139-year history, with past winners including:
- Might and Power
- Northerly
- Let’s Hope
- Leilani
- Tobin Bronze
- Rising Face
In 1998 the race became an international affair after Lady Herries took out the race with Taufan’s Melody and became the first female to train a winner of the Caulfield Cup at the same time.
This year’s race is set to take place on Saturday the 21st of October at the Caulfield Racecourse, in Victoria, Australia. Top race horses like Winx are set to take part, and the event promises to be an exciting one, as per usual.
Interesting Facts about the Race
- From 1937 to 1943, Clem Hill, an Australian Test cricket player, was the handicapper for the Victoria Amateur Turf Club, or VATC, and it was his responsibility to set the weights for the Caulfield Cup.
- Scobie Breasley was the jockey riding the winning horse in four consecutive Caulfield Cups: 1942, 1943, 1944, and 1945. This included a division of the race in 1943, which was run in two, and he is also the record-holder for the most wins by a jockey of the Caulfield Cup, with a total of 5.
- Bart Cummings is a trainer who holds the record for training the most Caulfield Cup winners, with seven:
- Galilee
- Big Philou
- Leilani
- and 5. Ming Dynasty (who won twice)
- Let’s Elope
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- The winner of the Caulfield Cup in 2014, Admire Rakti, tragically died after his run for the Melbourne Cup had been completed, but natural causes was the reason.
- Horses that are trained outside of New Zealand and Australia have taken part in the race since 1998, and four of these have gone on to win:
- Taufan’s Melody, 1998
- All the Good, 2008
- Saeed bin Suroor, 2012
- Admire Rakti, 2014
- The worst Caulfield Cup fall in the history of the race happened at the one which took place in 1885, with 15 of the 44 horses taking part fell down as they turned onto the straight. Donald Nicolson, a 25-year old jockey, was killed.
Order of St George has been attractively weighted, on 58 kg in the Melbourne Cup, but, for the first time in over 100 years, a horse who manages to win the Caulfield Cup weighing 56 kilograms or more will suffer no penalties.
