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160 Melbourne Cup Trivia Questions, Answers, and Fun Facts

How much do you know about Melbourne Cup? This category is for trivia questions and answers related to Melbourne Cup (Sports). Each one is filled with fun facts and interesting information.
1 Which horse, trained by Ray Hutchins, won the 1973 Melbourne Cup?
Answer: Gala Supreme

Gala Supreme's only other major win was the 1973 Herbert Power Handicap.
    Your options: [ Tim Whiffler ] [ Banker ] [ Gala Supreme ] [ Toryboy ]
  From Quiz: Melbourne Cup Trainers and Horses
2 The year is 2006. This horse is a brown stallion. He was 5 years old when he won the Cup.
Answer: Delta Blues

Delta Blues is a Japanese horse that was trained by Katsuhiko Sumii.
    Your options: [ Delta Blues ] [ Makybe Diva ] [ Efficient ] [ Media Puzzle ]
  From Quiz: Melbourne Cup Winners [2]
3 Which jockey rode the 1990 Melbourne Cup winner, Kingston Rule?
Answer: D. Beadman

Kingston Rule won the Cup in 3:16.3. Kingston Rule was one of the 8 imported horses to win the Melbourne Cup.
    Your options: [ D. Beadman ] [ H. Cairns ] [ D. Munro ] [ F. Bullock ]
  From Quiz: Melbourne Cup - Horses, Jockeys, Trainers
4 Who won the Melbourne Cup in 1861?
Answer: Archer

This was the first ever Melbourne Cup. Archer won in 1862 as well. He was the slowest horse to ever win a Melbourne Cup.
  From Quiz: Melbourne Cup Winners [1]
5 Which horse was the favourite to win the the 1979 cup?
Answer: Dulcify

Unfortunately he did not finish, breaking his pelvis on the home turn. A very sad day for many, especially the Hayes family.
    Your options: [ Hyperno ] [ Dulcify ] [ Ming Dynasty ] [ Salamander ]
  From Quiz: Melbourne Cup
6 What type of horse race is the Melbourne Cup?
Answer: Handicap

The intention of a handicap race is to give every horse a chance to win. The handicapper does this by allocating a certain weight that each horse must carry during the race. This weight is in the form of ballast carried in the saddle-bags. The better the horse, the bigger the weight it carries. Older horses also carry a heavier load,
compared to younger animals. Amongst winners of the Melbourne Cup carrying large weights, Carbine's dominance of the 1890 race, under a burden of 10 stone 5lb (or 65 kilos) was a stand-out effort. In more recent times, Rising Fast carried 59.5 kilos to win in 1954, a kilo more than Think Big lumped around in his 1975 victory. Of horses who failed to pass the winning post first, Phar Lap's impost of 10 stone 10lb (70 kilos) in the 1931 cup, was a clear indicator of the handicapper's opinion of that super-horse.
  From Quiz: The Magical Melbourne Cup
7 Which horse won the first Melbourne Cup, run in 1861?
Answer: Archer

On Thursday, 7 November, in a field of 17 horses, Archer won the first Melbourne Cup. He would win again in 1862 in a field of 20 horses.
    Your options: [ Archer ] [ Arsenal ] [ Archimedes ] [ Australia ]
  From Quiz: The Race That Stops A Nation
8 In which year was the Melbourne Cup first run?
Answer: 1861

There were 17 starters in the first Melbourne Cup. The trophy was a not a cup at all, but a gold watch.
    Your options: [ 1873 ] [ 1881 ] [ 1861 ] [ 1867 ]
  From Quiz: The Melbourne Cup
9 Trained by Bart Cummings, which horse won the 1966 Melbourne Cup?
Answer: Galilee

Mr. Cummings won an amazing twelve Melbourne Cups, getting his first Cup with Light Fingers in 1965 (his 12th was in 2008 with Viewed).
    Your options: [ Poseidon ] [ Grand Flaneur ] [ Galilee ] [ Dalray ]
  From Quiz: Melbourne Cup Trainers and Horses
10 Which horse won the Melbourne Cup in 1919?
Answer: Artilleryman

Artilleryman was by Comedy King out of Cross Battery. He won the Melbourne Cup as a 3-year old ridden by Bobby Lewis.
    Your options: [ Artilleryman ] [ Night Watch ] [ Westcourt ] [ Poitrel ]
  From Quiz: Melbourne Cup Winners [2]
11 Darby Munro rode 3 Melbourne Cup winners to victory. Two of the horses were Peter Pan in 1934 and Sirius in 1944. What was the name of the horse he rode in 1946?
Answer: Russia

Russia set a record with his time of 3:21.25. Wotan, ridden by O. Phillips in 1936, set the previous record.
  From Quiz: Melbourne Cup - Horses, Jockeys, Trainers
12 What did Rain Lover, Peter Pan, Archer, and Think Big all have in common?
Answer: They all won the Melbourne Cup twice

Archer won in 1861 and 1862. Rain Lover won in 1968 and 1969. Peter Pan won in 1932 and 1934. Think Big won in 1974 and 1975.
  From Quiz: Melbourne Cup Winners [1]
13 Which mare was runner-up to Kensei in 1987, before winning the Cup the following year?
Answer: Empire Rose

Ethereal won in 2001, Jezabeel won in 1998, Lets Elope won in 1991, and Empire Rose in 1988.
    Your options: [ Jezabeel ] [ Empire Rose ] [ Ethereal ] [ Lets Elope ]
  From Quiz: Melbourne Cup
14 In which year was the Melbourne Cup first run?
Answer: 1861

Four thousand spectators saw seventeen hopefuls line up. Twilight jumped the gun, and completed the course before being caught. Tragically, Despatch and Medora fell, and were destroyed. Archer, a five year old bay horse, trained by Etienne de Mestre and ridden by John Cutts led the field home. By winning, he earned his owner 710 pounds and a hand-beaten gold watch. The long-standing legend that Archer walked the 550 miles (880 kilometres) from his home at Nowra on the southern New South Wales Coast to the course has since been disproved by records which show he travelled by boat. What does the determination shown by De Mestre, and other trainers, to go to such lengths to get their horses to a race so far away indicate?
Probably nothing more than the fact that they were attracted by prizes very rich at the time. One wonders if any dreamed of the tradition they were starting.
    Your options: [ 1859 ] [ 1861 ] [ 1864 ] [ 1863 ]
  From Quiz: The Magical Melbourne Cup
15 What was unusual about the Melbourne Cup of 1863?
Answer: It was the smallest field to race

Archer was nominated to race in the third Melbourne Cup but his nomination didn't arrive in time. Due to this, many other owners scratched their horses. This left a field of only seven horses, the smallest field to ever race in the Melbourne Cup.
  From Quiz: The Race That Stops A Nation
16 What was the name of the horse that won the first Melbourne Cup?
Answer: Archer

Legend has it that Archer was walked 500 miles (800km) from Nowra (south of Sydney) to Melbourne, so that he could run in the Cup. Archer also won the 2nd Melbourne Cup.
  From Quiz: The Melbourne Cup
17 Which horse, trained by Arch McGregor, won the 1962 Melbourne Cup?
Answer: Even Stevens

Even Stevens also won the 1961 Avondale Cup, the 1962 C.B Fisher Plate and the 1962 Caulfield Cup.
    Your options: [ The Pearl ] [ Warrior ] [ Even Stevens ] [ Nimblefoot ]
  From Quiz: Melbourne Cup Trainers and Horses
18 This horse was a chestnut stallion. He won the Cup in 1946. Who was it?
Answer: Russia

On Target came in second and third place was Carey.
  From Quiz: Melbourne Cup Winners [2]
19 In what year did Banker win the Melbourne Cup?
Answer: 1863

Banker competed against 6 other horses. This was the smallest field to ever contest the Cup.
  From Quiz: Melbourne Cup Winners [1]
20 How many cups did Harry White ride the winner?
Answer: 4

Harry won 4 cups in quick time. He won on Think Big in 1975 and 1976, Arwon in 1978, and Hyperno in 1979.
  From Quiz: Melbourne Cup
21 Which organisation assumed responsibility for the running of the Melbourne Cup in 1864 and in subsequent years?
Answer: Victoria Racing Club (VRC)

The Victoria Racing Club was the result of a merger between the VTC and the VJC. The VTC had organised the first Cup, as well as those of 1862 and 1863. Both that club and the VJC then hit a wall.
Two clubs competing with each other at a time when fields were limited by a dearth of local racehorses, with the subsequent inability to offer financial incentives large enough to entice entries from places further apart, led to the decision to join forces.
Subsequently, the VRC was able to organise meets more frequently and of a higher standard. First seretary of the VRC was Mr. R.C. Bagot, whose name is perpetuated in the New Year's Day Bagot Handicap.
    Your options: [ Victoria Turf Club (VTC) ] [ Victoria Racing Club (VRC) ] [ Victoria Jockey Club (VJC) ] [ Melbourne Racing Club (MRC) ]
  From Quiz: The Magical Melbourne Cup
22 Which was the first horse to win at odds of 100/1?
Answer: The Pearl, 1871

In 1871, The Pearl, at odds of 100/1, won in a field of 23 horses. The next horse to win at odds of 100/1 was Wotan in 1936, in a field of 20 starters.
    Your options: [ The Pearl, 1871 ] [ The Quack, 1872 ] [ The Barb, 1866 ] [ The Assyrian, 1882 ]
  From Quiz: The Race That Stops A Nation
23 What is the smallest field to ever run the Melbourne Cup?
Answer: Seven

This was in 1863 when the Cup was won by Banker. The largest field was 38 in 1890 (won by Carbine).
  From Quiz: The Melbourne Cup
24 Trained by E. Hush, which horse won the 1946 Melbourne Cup?
Answer: Russia

Russia also won the 1947 AJC Craven Plate and the 1947 P.J. O'Shae Stakes.
    Your options: [ Haricot ] [ The Quack ] [ Russia ] [ Don Juan ]
  From Quiz: Melbourne Cup Trainers and Horses
25 Which horse won the 1999 Melbourne Cup?
Answer: Rogan Josh

Rogan Josh was trained by Bart Cummings and ridden by John Marshall.
    Your options: [ Rogan Josh ] [ Jezabeel ] [ Revenue ] [ Brew ]
  From Quiz: Melbourne Cup Winners [2]
26 Comedy King won the Melbourne Cup in what year?
Answer: 1910

Comedy King was the first imported horse to ever win the Melbourne Cup. Since then 7 other imported horses have won, including the 2007 winner, Delta Blues. Trafalgar and Apple Pie finished second and third in the race.
  From Quiz: Melbourne Cup Winners [1]
27 How many kilos did the American Import Beldale Ball carry to victory in 1980?
Answer: 49.5kg

Beldale Ball won from My Blue Denim and Love Bandit.
  From Quiz: Melbourne Cup
28 Which legendary Melbourne Cup winner was foaled by Night Raid, out of Entreaty?
Answer: Phar Lap

A chestnut gelding, Phar Lap continues to be an icon in the eyes of Australasians. Foaled in the New Zealand town of Timaru in 1925, his dam was the New Zealander Entreaty; his sire the imported Great British stallion, Night Raid. Phar Lap won 37 of 51 starts - including the 1930 Melbourne Cup. After racing unsuccessfully in the 1931 Cup, Phar Lap went to North America. There he amazed onlookers with a record win in the Agua Caliente Handicap in Mexico. Shortly afterward, tragedy struck. The horse had a colic attack and died. There were suggestions that strapper Tommy Woodcock had accidentally overdosed Phar Lap with a substance known as Fowler's Solution, which would have induced the condition, but nothing was ever proved.
    Your options: [ Rising Fast ] [ Phar Lap ] [ Carbine ] [ Archer ]
  From Quiz: The Magical Melbourne Cup
29 In 1890, in one of the largest fields ever in the Melbourne Cup, who won?
Answer: Carbine

In a field of 39 horses, the great Carbine, born and bred in New Zealand, carried a huge 65.5 kg (10st 5lb in 1890) in his Cup winning run. To put this in perspective, in the modern era (from 1972) Melbourne Cup winners who have been heavily weighted have been; 1975 Think Big - 58.5 kg, 1977 Gold and Black - 57 kg, 1979 Hyperno - 56 kg, 1982 Gurner's Lane - 56 kg, 1994 Jeune - 56.5kg, 1997 Might and Power - 56 kg. In 1990, the Victoria Racing Club restored Carbine's original stall to celebrate the centenary of his Melbourne Cup victory.
  From Quiz: The Race That Stops A Nation
30 In what year did Phar Lap, Australia's most famous racehorse, win the Melbourne Cup?
Answer: 1930

In his racing career Phar Lap started 51 times. He had 37 wins, 3 seconds, and 2 thirds.
  From Quiz: The Melbourne Cup
31 Which horse, trained by Jim McAulay, won the 1929 Melbourne Cup?
Answer: Nightmarch

During his racing career, Nightmarch won twenty-three races, fourteen less than his more famous half-brother, Phar Lap.
    Your options: [ Doriemus ] [ Carbine ] [ Nightmarch ] [ Archer ]
  From Quiz: Melbourne Cup Trainers and Horses
32 Who was the dam of the 1922 winner, King Ingoda?
Answer: Ingoda

Ingoda was a born in 1906 in New Zealand. Maid of the Oaks was the dam of 1861 and 1862 winner, Archer. Gallant Elsa was the dam of 1943 winner, Dark Felt. The 1967 winner, Red Handed, was out of Red Might.
  From Quiz: Melbourne Cup Winners [2]
33 Even Stevens was ridden by whom in the 1962 Melbourne Cup?
Answer: L. Coles

Even Stevens was a horse from New Zealand who won both the Melbourne Cup and the Caulfield Cup in 1962.
  From Quiz: Melbourne Cup - Horses, Jockeys, Trainers
34 King Ingoda won the Cup in which year?
Answer: 1922

King Ingoda was a 4-year old owned by Messrs C. L. Dubois & R. W. Bennett. Ingoda won with 8-1 odds. The Cypher and Mufti finished second and third, respectively.
    Your options: [ 1922 ] [ 1903 ] [ 1864 ] [ 1984 ]
  From Quiz: Melbourne Cup Winners [1]
35 Who said of the Melbourne Cup: "Nowhere in the world have I encountered a festival of people that has such a magnificent appeal to the whole nation. The Cup astonishes me."
Answer: Mark Twain

Mark Twain attended the Cup in 1895, during a lecture tour of Australia. He makes further fascinating observations about the race in his travel book: "Following the Equator: A Journey Around the World."
    Your options: [ The Duke of Edinburgh ] [ Mark Twain ] [ Lyndon Baines Johnson ] [ Lord Lucan ]
  From Quiz: The Magical Melbourne Cup
36 Who was the second horse to win consecutive Melbourne Cups?
Answer: Rain Lover

Rain Lover won in both 1968 and 1969, matching the feat of Archer, who won the first two runnings, in 1861 and 1862.
  From Quiz: The Race That Stops A Nation
37 Trained by E.J. Hatwell, which horse won the 1931 Melbourne Cup?
Answer: White Nose

Phar Lap, carrying almost 70kgs, was the favourite for this race but, due to such a heavy weight, was easily beaten by White Nose, carrying only 47.17kgs.
    Your options: [ Darriwell ] [ Wollomai ] [ White Nose ] [ Calamia ]
  From Quiz: Melbourne Cup Trainers and Horses
38 R. Miller owned the winner of the 1925 Melbourne Cup winner. What was his name?
Answer: Windbag

Windbag was a bay stallion who finished in 3.22.75. Manfred came in second and Pilliewinkie came third. Windbag was ridden by J. Munro and trained by G. Price.
  From Quiz: Melbourne Cup Winners [2]
39 Which two horses share the slowest time to ever win a Melbourne Cup?
Answer: Archer and Lantern

Their time was 3:52. Archer winning in 1861 and Lantern in 1864.
    Your options: [ Archer and Lantern ] [ Lantern and Banker ] [ Archer and Banker ] [ Banker and Toryboy ]
  From Quiz: Melbourne Cup - Horses, Jockeys, Trainers
40 Who won the Cup in 1890?
Answer: Carbine

Carbine beat 38 other horses. This was one of the the largest fields to ever contest the Cup.
  From Quiz: Melbourne Cup Winners [1]
The rest of the questions and answers can be found in our quizzes here:
Melbourne Cup Quizzes