The 2021 Melbourne Cup will take place later in the year. It is one of the most prestigious events in the Australian racing calendar. Fast horses come to compete for the second richest prize in Australian sport.
There will be a total of ten races throughout the event, with varying track lengths and cash prizes. A large crowd of fans and spectators will be around to witness the event. Beyond the main event, there will be other extra races and events to keep people engaged.
Australian Locals tag theMelbourne Cup as “the race that stops the nation”. It will be advantageous to get prepared and make an early bet for this tournament.
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Date and Venue for the Melbourne Cup
This horse racing competition will take place by 3:00 p.m. on November 2nd, 2021. The race comes up on the first Tuesday of every November in a year.
Schools, businesses, and corporate institutions often stop work so that people can tune in to their TVs and radios to follow the event. The venue is at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
The Format of the Melbourne Cup
Many horses try to enter this competition every year. This large number reduces to 24 because of the balloting system and handicapping. The horses have to be 3 years or above, with a minimum handicap weight of 50kg.
The main race distance is an energy-sapping 3200 meters. There is an entry fee of $600 for each horse. Before the main event, every qualified horse owner will need to pay four sets of acceptance fees.
A decision will be made on the final field for the Melbourne Cup on Saturday, 30th October 2021. This is after the Lexus Hotham Stakes which determines the final spot in the competition. The first ten horses to complete the Melbourne Cup field race will win cash prizes. The total cash prize is $8,000,000 and an additional $175,000 in trophies.
Key Dates in the 2021 Melbourne Cup
| EVENT | DATE |
| Barrier draw | October 30, 2021 (Saturday) |
| Final field | October 30, 2021 (Saturday) |
| Second declaration | October 25, 2021 (Monday) |
| First declaration | October 5, 2021 (Tuesday) |
| Weights | September 7, 2021 (Tuesday) |
| Late nomination | August 31, 2021 (Tuesday) |
| Nominations | August 26, 2021 (Thursday) |
How to Bet on the 2021 Melbourne Cup
Almost immediately after the 2020 Melbourne Cup, sportsbooks already set up All-in markets (early markets) for the 2021 edition. It doesn’t matter if the competition is still far. This racing competition is the biggest betting event in Australia.
Bookmakers don’t want punters to wait till November before getting the betting excitement. There are chances to bet on the Melbourne Cup all through the year before the actual race. The catch is that live betting can only start 72 hours before the race.
On August 26, 2021, we will have the Melbourne Cup nominations released. As from this date, the odds become shorter. Despite this fact, people who place their odds early still have the advantage.
If you want to invest in early markets, it will be advantageous for you to check different bookmaker odds. Most bookmakers are quite in unison on a horse’s price. Some horses can go below their guard. A good idea for punters is to use a good odds comparison tool before placing their bet on any horse.
For those who want to explore, check out some of the betting sites for South Africans.
How to Calculate 2021 Melbourne Cup Betting Odds
Bookmakers typically express horse racing betting odds in the form of fractions. It is usual to see them written as 11/5, 9/2, and 2/1.
Let’s use a 2/1 betting odd as an example. Add the number on the right to the one on the left. The sum is 3. Divide the number on the right by 3 and convert the fraction to a percentage. The result is 33.3%. That is your percentage odds. This means that there is a 33.3 % chance that your horse will win. For every $1 you wager, you will win $2 in addition to your initial bet. That makes $3.
To find the percentage odds for 9/2 shot winning, sum up 2 and 9 – that is 11. Convert the fraction 2/11 to a percentage – the result is 18.2%. For every $2 you bet, you will win $9 plus your initial $2 bet.
Races for Automatic Entry into the Melbourne Cup Final Field
There are four ballot-exempt races. A win in one of these races will guarantee an automatic entry into the Melbourne Cup final field. These races are:
- Caulfield cup: Any participant that performs well in this race has a high chance of winning the Melbourne Cup. The race is 2400m long and takes place in the Caulfield Racecourse.
- Bart Cummings: This 2500m racing event takes place at Flemington racecourse in October. It is becoming prominent in the Melbourne Cup form guides.
- Andrews Ramsden stakes: Andrew Ramsden stakes will take place at Flemington racecourse on May 15, 2021. The victor in this event can become a force to reckon with in the Melbourne Cup field.
- Lexus Stakes: The Lexus is a 2500m race that can give the winner a chance to hop into the main event.
For more information on other sporting events coming up in 2021, click this link.
Winning With Place Bets in the Melbourne Cup
Since people pick from 24 fast horses, it can be hard to wager on a potential winner. Some factors to take into consideration are the barrier draw, jockey, and weight.
Most Sportsbooks provide Melbourne Cup odds for the place and the win. The large betting pools mean that you have access to good and low odds. Lower odds mean less risk.
Favorites in the Melbourne Cup
Early analysis from analysis and observation have shown some of the likely favorites. Some of the top horses are:
- Tiger Moth
- Prince of Arran
- Realm of flowers
- Amade
- Twilight Payment
- Surprise baby
- Love
- Verry Elleegant
- Santiago
Facts About the Melbourne Cup
- Kingston Rule, the 1990 winner, holds the record smallest time of 3:16:3.
- The location of the racing headquarters for the competition is Flemington, Victoria.
- Twilight Payment triumphed in the 2020 Melbourne Cup ahead of Prince of Arran and Tiger Moth.
Conclusion
The 2021 Melbourne Cup will be here in no time. Before the main race, there will be spicy events to keep everyone’s energy high. On the first Tuesday of November 2021, there are several side attractions and festivities to complement the core event.
You can also benefit from casting your bet early. Take note that the odds for potential winners will change as time unfolds. Keep yourself up to date as the excitement before the main event gradually unfolds.
