Melbourne Cup 2025: Everything you need to know about the big race including times, odds and horses

As a massive day of horse racing kicks off at Flemington, we’ve collated the key info surrounding the 2025 Melbourne Cup so you know what’s happening and when.

What time does the race start?

The Melbourne Cup will commence from 12pm WST, with earlier races having begun from 7.45am.

The Melbourne Cup will follow competitors around a 3200m course, which is the longest race of the day.

How to watch, listen to or follow the race?

The day’s proceedings will be broadcast live on Channel 9 and streamed on Nine Now, or on Racing.com.

Listeners in Perth can keep up to date on radio through TABradio 1206 AM (or here for regional areas) or SEN Track 657 AM.

The West Australian will keep you up speed with results from each race via a live digital blog from 9am.

How much prize money is up for grabs?

The Lexus Melbourne Cup event has a prize pool of $10 million (up from $8 million in 2024) which makes it the richest handicap event in the world.

1st place: $4,500,000 plus 18-carat gold trophy

2nd place: $1,110,000

3rd place: $560,000

4th place: $360,000

5th place: $240,000

6th-12th place: $160,000

13th-24th place: $100,000

Melbourne Cup horses and odds (correct as at 8.30am Tuesday)

1. AL RIFFA

Odds: $7/$2.90 (favourite)

Trainer: Joseph O’Brien

Jockey: Mark Zahra

2. BUCKAROO

Odds: $11/$3.70

Trainer: Chris Waller

Jockey: Craig Williams

3. ARAPAHO

Odds: $41/$11

Trainer: Bjorn Baker;

Jockey: Rachel King

4. VAUBAN

Odds: $18/$5.50

Trainer: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott

Jockey: Blake Shinn

5. CHEVALIER ROSE

Odds: $51/$12

Trainer: Hisashi Shimuzu

Jockey: Damian Lane

6. PRESAGE NOCTURNE

Odds: $9/$3.30

Trainer: Alessandro Botti

Jockey: Stephane Pasquier

7. MIDDLE EARTH

Odds: $31/$9.50

Trainer: Ciaron Maher

Jockey: Ethan Brown

8. MEYDAAN

Odds: $23/$7

Trainer: Simon & Ed Crisford

Jockey: James McDonald

9. ABSURDE

Odds: $17/$4.80

Trainer: Willie Mullins

Jockey: Kerrin McEvoy

10. FLATTEN THE CURVE

Odds: $19/$6

Trainer: Henk Grewe

Jockey: Thore-Hammer Hansen

11. LAND LEGEND

Odds: $61/$16

Trainer: Chris Waller

Jockey: Joao Moreira

12. SMOKIN’ ROMANS

Odds: $41/$11

Trainer: Ciaron Maher

Jockey: Ben Melham

13. CHANGINGOFTHEGUARD

Odds: $61/$16

Trainer: Kris Lees

Jockey: Tim Clark

14. HALF YOURS

Odds: $8/$3

Trainer: Tony and Calvin McEvoy

Jockey: Jamie Melham

15. MORE FELONS

Odds: $51/$11

Trainer: Chris Waller

Jockey: Tommy Berry

16. ONESMOOTHOPERATOR

Odds: $35/$10

Trainer: Brian Ellison

Jockey: Harry Coffey

17. FURTHUR

Odds: $41/$9.50

Trainer: Andrew Balding

Jockey: Michael Dee

18. PARCHMENT PARTY

Odds: $34/$9

Trainer: William Mott

Jockey: Johnny Velazquez

19. ATHABASCAN

Odds: $61/$16

Trainer: John O’Shea and Tom Charlton

Jockey: Declan Bates

20. GOODIE TWO SHOES

Odds: $26/$7.50

Trainer: Joseph O’Brien

Jockey: Wayne Lordan

21. RIVER OF STARS

Odds: $17/$4.80

Trainer: Chris Waller

Jockey: Beau Mertens

22. ROYAL SUPREMACY

Odds: $27/$8.50

Trainer: Ciaron Maher

Jockey: Robbie Dolan

23. TORRANZINO

Odds: $27/$8

Trainer: Paul Preusker

Jockey: Celine Gaudray

24. VALIANT KING

Odds: $10/$3.50

Trainer: Chris Waller

Jockey: Jye McNeil

Full Race day Schedule (WST times)

7.45am — Darley Maribyrnong Plate

8:20am — MA Services Grand Handicap

9am — TAB Trophy

9.40am — The Schweppervescence Plate

10.20am — Australian Heritage Cup

10.55am — Kirin Ichiban Plate

12pm — Lexus Melbourne Cup

12.50pm — Lexus Amanda Elliott

1.35pm — The Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes

2.15pm — Channel 9 Trophy