How Many Horses Race In The Melbourne Cup
But the Melbourne Cup isn't the only race with casualties. From July 2016 until July 2017, 137 horses died on Australian racetracks. Tuesday's death understandably sparked outrage. Melbourne Cup, “The race that stops a nation” is Australia’s most famous thoroughbred horse race. Conducted as a part of Melbourne’s spring racing carnival, this 3200-metre race is the richest two-mile handicap in the world. Began in 1861, the story of Melbourne Cup is also the story of horse racing. Four horses among the remaining 42 vying for the 24 spots in the Melbourne Cup field have been the subjects of veterinary scrutiny. Defending Cup titleholder Cross Counter and 2018 runner-up Marmelo, along with Ispolini and Southern France have undergone tests.
The world now lives in tougher times but the entry numbers for both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups have remained strong for 2020.
COVID-19 has cast a shadow on whether the great races will be run behind without crowds but the entries for both events are up on 2019 levels.
Trainers have entered 177 horses for the Caulfield Cup, a rise of 24 on last year while the Melbourne Cup nominations have jumped from 152 to 174.
Racing Victoria’s chief handicapper Greg Carpenter noted there were 29 individual Group I winners in the Caulfield Cup entries and 25 in the Melbourne Cup.
International stables have entered 34 horses for the Caulfield Cup and 30 for the Melbourne Cup.
Irish trainers Aidan and Joseph O’Brien dominate the international entries. The pair accounts for 20 of the Caulfield Cup nominations and 16 of the Melbourne Cup contingent.
Joseph O’Brien went close to winning last year with Master Of Reality and the 2017 Melbourne Cup-winning trainer has nominated the stayer for another crack this year.
Twilight Payment and Buckhurst are also among the young trainer’s Melbourne Cup possibilities.
Aidan O’Brien will again chase his first Melbourne Cup in 2020.
The Irish master has entered 2019 Epsom Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck and the last two Irish Derby winners Sovereign and Santiago for the $8 million event.
Local trainer Danny O’Brien has entered last year’s Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare, the South Australian Derby winner Russian Camelot and the VRC Oaks winner Miami Bound for the 2020 Cup.
Racenet has the full list of 2020 Melbourne Cup nominations as well as the full list of entries for the 2020 Caulfield Cup.
Weights for both the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup will be released on September 8.
You'll probably be leaving the fancy heels and fascinators in the closet for this year's race like no other....
You'll probably be leaving the fancy heels and fascinators in the closet for this year's race like no other.
The scramble to secure a Melbourne Cup spot is heating up.Source:Getty Images
A total of 45 horses remain in the hunt for the 2020 Lexus Melbourne Cup after third acceptances were received on Monday.
As always it will be a mad scramble for the final few spots in the field of 24 for the $8 million handicap.
Wednesday’s $400,000 Bendigo Cup will provide a chance for the winner to get a weight penalty to move up the entry list, while Saturday’s Lexus Hotham Stakes (2500m) provides a ‘win and you’re in’ scenario.
Miami Bound escaped without a weight penalty following her dominant victory in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup.
Racing Victoria chief handicapper Greg Carpenter said while it was an impressive win, she had been well weighted in the Group Two.
“Miami Bound was a strong winner of the Moonee Valley Gold Cup, however she was well weighted under the set weights and penalties conditions of the Group Two race and she will face superior opposition at Flemington on Cup Day,” Carpenter said.
“At 5.5kg under weight-for-age benchmark in the Melbourne Cup, modern history says she already faces a significant challenge to win the race with 51kg.”
The Danny O’Brien-trained VRC Oaks winner didn’t need a weight penalty to make the Cup field, having already been safely inside the top 24.
Key horses not to feature among the third acceptors include Metropolitan winner Mirage Dancer and Cox Plate runners Mugatoo (finished fourth at The Valley), Master Of Wine (eighth) and Buckhurst (10th).
Final acceptances will close at 4:30pm on Saturday with the barrier draw to be conducted from 5:30pm AEDT.
Sir Dragonet (right) races away to win the Cox Plate.Source:Getty Images
MELBOURNE CUP 2020 – ORDER OF ENTRY
Horse — Trainer — Weight
1: Verry Elleegant (NZ) — Chris Waller — 55.5kg
2: Sir Dragonet (IRE) — Ciaron Maher & David Eustace — 55.5kg
3: Oceanex (NZ) — Mick Price & Michael Kent — 51.5kg
4: Persan — Ciaron Maher & David Eustace — 51kg
5: Anthony Van Dyck (IRE) — Aidan O’Brien — 58.5kg
6: Vow and Declare — Danny O’Brien — 57kg
7: Avilius (GB) — James Cummings — 57kg
8: Russian Camelot (IRE) — Danny O’Brien — 53.5kg
9: Master of Reality (IRE) — Joseph O’Brien — 56kg
10: Twilight Payment (IRE) — Joseph O’Brien — 55.5kg
11: Tiger Moth (IRE) — Aidan O’Brien — 52.5kg
12: Mustajeer (GB) — Kris Lees — 55kg
13: Stratum Albion (GB) — Willie Mullins — 55kg
14: Prince of Arran (GB) — Charlie Fellowes — 54.5kg
15: Warning — Anthony & Sam Freedman — 53kg
16: Surprise Baby (NZ) — Paul Preusker — 54.5kg
17: Dashing Willoughby (GB) — Andrew Balding — 54.5kg
18: Finche (GB) — Chris Waller — 54.5kg
How Many Horses Usually Run In The Melbourne Cup
19: Etah James (NZ) — Ciaron Maher & David Eustace — 52.5kg
20: Miami Bound (NZ) — Danny O’Brien — 51kg
21: The Chosen One (NZ) — Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman — 53.5kg
22: Steel Prince (IRE) — Anthony & Sam Freedman — 53.5kg
23: King of Leogrance (FR) — Danny O’Brien — 53.5kg
24: True Self (IRE) — Willie Mullins — 52kg
25: Zebrowski (NZ) — Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes — 52kg
26: San Huberto (IRE) — Matt Cumani — 53.5kg
27: Nickajack Cave (IRE) — Peter G Moody — 53.5kg
28: Platinum Invador (NZ) — Peter G Moody — 53kg
29: Ashrun (FR) — Andreas Wohler — 53kg
How Many Horses Race In The Melbourne Cup 2018
30: Hush Writer (JPN) — Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott — 52.5kg
31: Le Don De Vie (GB) — Anthony & Sam Freedman — 52.5kg
32: Skyward (FR) — Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young — 52.5kg
33: Sound (GER) — Michael Moroney — 52kg
34: Azuro (FR) — Ciaron Maher & David Eustace — 52kg
35: Chapada — Michael Moroney — 52kg
36: Carif — Peter & Paul Snowden — 52kg
37: Haky (IRE) — Archie Alexander — 52kg
38: Gallic Chieftain (FR) — Archie Alexander — 51kg
39: Pondus (GB) — Joseph O’Brien — 51kg
40: Schabau (GER) — Robert Hickmott — 50.5kg
41: Attorney (FR) — Matthew Smith — 50kg
42: Lord Belvedere (GB) — Ciaron Maher & David Eustace — 50.5kg
43: Admire Robson (JPN) — Paul Preusker — 50kg
44: Future Score (IRE) — Matt Cumani — 50kg
45: Saracen Knight (IRE) — Danny O’Brien — 50kg
This article originally appeared on punters.com.au and was reproduced with permission.