Legends of the Track: Horses That Made Melbourne Cup History
The Melbourne Cup is one of the premier events on the Australian calendar, “the race that stops the nation", a 3200-meter track that isn’t just part of sports, but of wider culture.
Every year, there are shocking results. Favorites that disappoint, stars that cement their status, and surprise packages at long odds that leave bookies with head in hands. These are the legends of the track, the horses that made history, crafting the mythology of the Melbourne Cup going back to the 19th century.
Makybe Diva
To cement the legitimacy of this list right from the get-go, we have to talk about one of the biggest legends of the Melbourne track, Makybe Diva. Foaled on 21 March 1999, she is the only mare to win the Melbourne Cup more than a single time.
But this is even more impressive: she is the only racehorse, period, to win three Melbourne Cups (2003, 2004, and 2005). In 2005, she was also the winner of the prestigious Cox Plate. All that winning also translated into a huge bag, with Makybe Diva racking up over A$14 million in prize money.
In 2003, Makybe Diva was near the back of the field, picking up the pace towards the end of the race, eventually being a surprise Melbourne Cup winner by one-and-a-half lengths. In 2004, she was the A$3.60 favorite, and duly won her second title. In the 2005 vintage, at an assigned weight of 58kg, many thought she was past her best. And perhaps she was, but that did not stop her from making history and winning her third title.
The story of her name is also worthy of note, with Tony Santic, a fisherman based in South Australia, taking the first two letters of his employees (Maureen, Kylie, Belinda, Diane, and Vanessa) to name the horse.
Prince of Penzance
For those who love Cinderella stories, the underdogs, the Rudy Ruettiger’s of this world, then Prince of Penzance ticks all of the boxes. At odds of $101, the bookies are basically telling you: this horse is never going to win.
And in the 2015 Melbourne Cup, Prinze of Penzance looked like he was going to fulfil the predictions. Then the last 100 meters happened. That’s when he surprisingly took the lead, gasping from the audience, punters who bet on a miracle shouting their lungs out, finishing half a length ahead of Max Dynamite.
The race is also memorable because it was the first time a female jockey got to the finish line first in Melbourne Cup’s long history. Prince of Penzance was not the first 100/1 horse to salute in this storied race, but he was the first since 1940. Most pundits, however, believed that this would never again happen in the modern era. Prince of Penzance proved them wrong, creating yet another legend of the Melbourne Cup.
Phar Lap
During the Great Depression, there was little to feel good about. Phar Lap captured the imagination of a suffering crowd, giving them a small dose of joy in the midst of a difficult period. The 1930 Melbourne Cup is still the stuff of legend, almost a century on.
Born and bred in New Zealand, Phar Lap never raced in his home country. Leaving NZ at two years old, he was sent to Australia to start racing. Overall, he won 37 of his total 51 races (and 32 of his final 35!). Given the name ‘lightning’ in Thai, he certainly lived up to the billing.
He is such a legend that his remains are still on display in several museums. The National Museum of Australia has Phar Lap’s heart, and you can visit his skeleton at Te Papa in Wellington.
His heart was especially interesting, being noticeably larger than the average horse. Subsequent research uncovered that this was due to a genetic anomaly, now understood to be common with successful race horses, and known as the ‘X-factor’.
Legends of 2024?
Legends are meant to be created, with each Melbourne Cup offering an opportunity for a new horse and jockey to etch their names into racing lore.
The Melbourne Cup tips and predictions point to Jan Breughel taking home the big prize, with Vauban and Buckaroo following as second and third favorites.
Following the top 3, the odds change drastically. Some punters believe Willie Mullins may surprise with Absurde, although the odds hover around 14/1.
For those who are hoping for another 100 to 1-shot, there are plenty of possibilities. Poptronic is liked by many simply because of the name, while others hope that Bankers Choice will have them laughing all the way to the, well, bank.
In any case, there is plenty to be excited about. The Melbourne Cup now is not just the race that stops
