A major prize of the Melbourne spring
Melbourne is famous for its horse racing, and the Melbourne Cup is not the only prestigious event on the calendar. The Caulfield Cup is one of Australia’s leading handicap races and is staged over 2,400 metres at Caulfield Racecourse. It is open to horses aged three and older and has long been viewed as one of the key staying contests of the spring.
The race was first run in 1879, eighteen years after the inaugural Melbourne Cup. Newminster won the first edition. The event was staged in the autumn for its first two years before moving to late October in 1881, helping establish its place within Melbourne’s spring racing season.
War years and unusual editions
From 1940 to 1943, the Caulfield Cup was run at Flemington because Caulfield Racecourse was being used as a military base. The 1943 running was especially unusual: the number of contenders was so large that the race was divided into two separate divisions.
These wartime editions are part of the race’s distinctive history and show how the event continued despite major disruption.
The Cups Double
The Caulfield Cup has long been linked with the Melbourne Cup. Horses that win both races in the same year complete what is known as the “Cups Double”. Eleven horses have achieved the feat.
Bart Cummings holds the training record for the most Caulfield Cup victories, with seven winners. One of those, Ming Dynasty, won the race twice. The race has often served as an important test of stamina, class and handicap suitability before the Melbourne Cup.
Great jockeys and famous winners
Scobie Breasley is the most successful jockey in Caulfield Cup history with five wins. Damien Oliver follows with four, while Frank Dempsey and Neville Sellwood each rode three winners.
The race has generally been dominated by Australian and New Zealand horses, trainers and jockeys. The original page noted that only two overseas-trained winners between 1984 and its publication were Taufan’s Melody in 1998 and Fraar in 1993.
Viewed's memorable victory
The accompanying photograph shows Viewed winning the 2009 Caulfield Cup. Trained by Bart Cummings, Viewed was already a Melbourne Cup winner and his Caulfield victory reinforced his standing as one of the outstanding stayers of his era.
The Caulfield Cup regularly attracts horses and racing supporters from around the world. It is one of the centrepieces of the Caulfield Racing Carnival, alongside races such as the Caulfield Guineas and Thousand Guineas.
Racing, tourism and Melbourne
The Caulfield and Melbourne Cup carnivals are major tourist attractions. They draw visitors who spend on accommodation, restaurants, entertainment and sightseeing, while also generating huge betting interest.
For racing supporters, late October and early November offer one of the strongest sequences of elite racing anywhere in the world. Caulfield and Flemington provide Melbourne with two internationally recognised racing venues and two of Australia’s most famous Cup contests.