Melbourne Cup: All-time records and statistics

Published

1 week ago

October 27, 2024

admin

The Melbourne Cup began in 1861 and has since become Australia’s most iconic horse race. Over the years, it has produced incredible moments and records. Here’s a look at some of the key facts, stats, and history from the Cup’s rich past.

When is the 2024 Melbourne Cup?

The Melbourne Cup will jump at 3pm on Tuesday, Nov. 5. It’s the seventh race on a 10-race card at Flemington.

Which horse has won the most Melbourne Cups?

Makybe Diva is the most successful horse in this race, winning the Melbourne Cup three times (2003, 2004, and 2005). Meanwhile, another four horses have won the Cup twice — Think Big (1974, 1975), Rain Lover (1968, 1969), Peter Pan (1932, 1934), and the winner of the first two editions of the race, Archer (1861, 1862).

Who is the most successful Melbourne Cup jockey?

Both Bobby Lewis (1902, 1915, 1919, 1927) and Harry White (1974, 1975, 1978, 1979) have won the race on four occasions and are the only jockeys to do so.

More recently, retired duo Damien Oliver (1995, 2002, 2013) and Glen Boss (2003, 2004, 2005) each have three wins, as does current rider Kerrin McEvoy (2000, 2016, 2018).

Who is the most successful Melbourne Cup trainer?

Legendary trainer Bart Cummings won the Melbourne Cup on 12 occasions: 1965 (Light Fingers), 1966 (Galilee), 1967 (Red Handed), 1974 (Think Big), 1975 (Think Big), 1977 (Gold and Black), 1979 (Hyperno), 1990 (Kingston Rule), 1991 (Let’s Elope), 1996 (Saintly), 1999 (Rogan Josh), and 2008 (Viewed). He also fielded the quinella of the race five times (1965, 1966, 1974, 1975, 1991).

How big is the Melbourne Cup field?

The field is currently limited to 24 runners, making it one of the biggest fields in Australian racing. Of course, sometimes there are less runners due to late scratchings. Believe it or not, the largest Melbourne Cup field consisted of a whopping 39 runners back in 1890! The smallest field to contest the race? There were just seven in 1963.

Has the Melbourne Cup always been run at Flemington?

Yep! The richest two-mile handicap in the world has always been run at the famous Flemington racecourse, but it wasn’t always held on a Tuesday — that didn’t become a tradition until 1875. Before that, it was actually run on a Thursday, and in three of the five years during World War II (1942, 1943 and 1944) it was held on a Saturday.

Which barrier has produced the most Melbourne Cup winners?

While there have been 163 editions of the race, barriers were not introduced until 1924. Nevertheless, barriers five and 14 have been the most successful, producing eight winners each.

In 2021, Verry Elleegant made history by winning the race from barrier 18, becoming the first horse to triumph from this position.

The barrier now with the longest drought is six, having not produced a winner since Light Fingers in 1965.

Since 2000, nine of the 23 winners have come from barriers between 10-14, with no gate to produce more than two winners since the turn of the century. Seven barriers are still winless in that time, those being two, six, 15, 16, 20, 23, and 24.

What about Melbourne Cup saddlecloths?

Horses that have been assigned with the No. 4 saddle have been the most successful with 12 wins, Verry Elleegant the most recent in 2021. Numbers one and 12 each have 11 wins, while No. 6 has 10. As for the unluckiest numbers — seven, 16, 18, and 21 have the least amount of wins with two each.

What’s the record Melbourne Cup winning time?

Kingston Rule (1990) holds the current record for the 3200m race with a time of 3:16.3. But the biggest winning margin is shared by Archer (1862) and Rain Lover (1968) with eight lengths. For comparison, last year’s winner, Without A Fight, won the race with a time of 3:18.37, the eighth-fastest time on record.

This century, the slowest winning time was the second of Makybe Diva’s three straight wins, running it in 3:28.55 in 2004 — the track was very rain-affected, though.

Archer and Lantern both took 3:52.00 to win in 1961 and 1964 respectively, the slowest winning time on record.

Has there ever been a dead heat in the Melbourne Cup?

Not yet! But there have certainly been some tight finishes, and you don’t need to think back too far. In 2011, Dunaden beat home Red Cadeaux by just millimetres in a memorable, heart-stopping photo finish. There was also a thriller three years prior when Cummings’ Viewed held off a fast-finishing Bauer by the barest of margins in 2008.

The first photo finish was back in 1948 when Rimfire won from Dark Marne, perhaps controversially, but that’s a story for another day…

What’s the essential weight a horse needs to carry to be a winning Melbourne Cup chance?

There is no ‘essential’ weight, per se, but weight is still a factor. And even then, the best horses usually still win regardless.

Firstly, because the race is run under handicap conditions, each horse will be allocated a weight by the handicapper which is based on a number of key factors such as sex, age and past performances, as a way of levelling out the field.

The largest weight carried to victory was 66kgs by Carbine in 1890, while the lightest-weighted winner was Banker who had just 33.5kgs on his back in 1863.

Since 2010, the average weight carried by a winning horse is just over 54kgs. In that time, Gold Trip (2022) has won with 57.5kgs, and Cross Counter (2018) has won with 51kgs. In fact, in the past four years, 55.5kgs is the lightest weight carried to Melbourne Cup victory.

What aged horse has had the most success in the Melbourne Cup?

Four-year-olds have the best record in the race with 45 winners, while five-year-olds have won the race 44 times, together accounting for almost 55% of all winners.

In saying that, last year’s winner, Without A Fight, won as a seven-year-old, while Gold Trip (2022) and Verry Elleegant (2021) were both six. In 2020, Irish raider Twilight Payment became just the third eight-year-old to win the race, and the first since Catalogue in 1938.

Skipton (1941) was the last three-year-old to win, but both Cross Counter (2018) and Rekindling (2017), although officially listed as four-year-olds, were both European three-year-olds at the time they won.

Do mares or stallions have a better record in the Melbourne Cup?

Stallions (or entires) have dominated the Melbourne Cup with 72 wins, as have geldings with 55. Only 14 mares have won the race, Verry Elleegant in 2021 the most recent — and she was the first to do so since Makybe Diva’s third Cup win in 2005.

Who is the favourite to win this year’s Melbourne Cup?

As of 9am [AEDT] Oct. 28, Chris Waller’s Via Sistina is the current favourite after her stunning Cox Plate win in which she broke the track record previously set by champion mare Winx, while Jan Brueghel has been a hyped runner ever since trainer Aidan O’Brien revealed the inexperienced colt by Galileo would be his sole contender for this year’s race. Last year’s favourite Vauban, Caulfield Cup runner-up Buckaroo, and Geelong Cup winner Onesmoothoperator are also among the key chances.

What prize money is on offer?

The Melbourne Cup is worth $8 million, with the winner receiving $4.4 million. Trainers receive 10% of the winnings, jockeys 5%, and 85% goes to the owners of the horse. The second-placed runner earns $1.1 million, third takes $550,000, fourth $350,000, fifth $230,000, and sixth to 12th $160,000.

What is the biggest crowd to attend the Melbourne Cup?

The very first edition of the race welcomed 4,000 racegoers, but the record attendance was set when 2003 attracted 122,736 spectators. That figure dipped to 98,161 the following year, before the next 11 years saw crowds in six figures. Due to COVID-19, there were no patrons on course in 2020, while the crowd capacity was capped at 10,000 just for 2021.

Last year, the official attendance at Flemington was 84,492 — up 14.5% from 2022.

How can you watch the race in 2024?

Channel Nine has the free-to-air rights to the Melbourne Cup this year, as well as the rest of the carnival (Derby Day on November 2, Oaks Day on November 7, and Champions Stakes Day on November 9), after striking a six-year deal with the VRC and Tabcorp. It will also be available on the TAB app, Sky Racing, and Racing.com.

Make sure to also stay tuned to ESPN.com.au for a complete form guide and Cup day tips.

Sports

What are FBS college football conference tiebreaker rules?

Published

8 hours ago

November 6, 2024

admin

What are FBS college football conference tiebreaker rules?

Keith Jenkins

Nov 6, 2024, 09:00 AM ET

In the new 12-team College Football Playoff format, there is an added emphasis on conference championships. The four highest-ranked conference champions receive a first-round bye and a fifth conference champion is guaranteed a spot in the field. Those champions will be determined by conference title games held Dec. 6-7.

But in a college football landscape that has mostly done away with divisions and with some conferences expanding to as many as 18 teams, it can be difficult to figure out who is in line to reach those conference title games.

We’re here to help out. Below are the list of tiebreakers for each league to help determine conference championship game participants.

Atlantic Coast Conference

Conference’s tiebreaker policy

Two-team tie:

1. Head-to-head

2. Win percentage against common opponents

3. Win percentage against common opponents from top-to-bottom of the conference standings (breaking ties among tied teams)

4. Combined win percentage of conference opponents

5. Higher ranking by the Team Rating Score metric (from SportSource Analytics)

6. Draw administered by the ACC commissioner

Three-plus team tie: In case of a tie for both conference championship spots, once the tiebreaker identifies one championship game representative, it will start over with the remaining tied teams.

1. Combined head-to-head win percentage among the tied teams (if all tied teams are common opponents)

2. If all tied teams are not common opponents, if any tied team defeated each of the other tied teams

2a. If all tied teams are not common opponents, and no tied team defeated each of the other tied teams, but a tied team lost to each of the other tied teams, that team is eliminated

3. Win percentage against common opponents

4. Win percentage against common opponents from top-to-bottom of the conference standings

5. Combined win percentage of conference opponents

6. Higher ranking by the Team Rating Score metric (from SportSource Analytics)

7. Draw administered by the ACC commissioner

Big 12 Conference

Conference’s tiebreaker policy

Two-team tie:

1. Head-to-head

2. Win percentage against common conference opponents

3. Win percentage against the next-highest common opponent in the conference standings; in case of tied teams in standings, use each team’s win percentage against all of those teams

4. Combined win percentage in conference games of conference opponents (strength of conference schedule)

5. Total wins over the 12-game season (only one win against teams from FCS or lower division will be counted)

6. Higher ranking by the Team Rating Score metric (from SportSource Analytics)

7. Coin toss

Three-plus team tie: In case of a tie for both conference championship spots, once the tiebreaker identifies one championship game representative, it will start over with the remaining tied teams. When reduced to two tied teams, the two-team tiebreakers will be used.

1. Combined head-to-head among tied teams (if all tied teams are common opponents)

1a. If all tied teams are not common opponents, if any tied team defeated each of the other tied teams

1b. If all tied teams are not common opponents, and no tied team defeated each of the other tied teams, but a tied team lost to each of the other tied teams, that team is eliminated

2. Win percentage against all common opponents

3. Record against next-highest common opponent in conference standings; in case of tied teams in standings, use each team’s win percentage against all of those teams

4. Combined win percentage in conference games of conference opponents (strength of conference schedule)

5. Total wins over the 12-game season (only one win against teams from FCS or lower division will be counted)

6. Higher ranking by the Team Rating Score metric (from SportSource Analytics)

7. Coin toss

Big Ten Conference

Conference’s tiebreaker policy

Two-team tie:

1. Head-to-head

2. Win percentage against common conference opponents

3. Win percentage against common opponents from top-to-bottom of the conference standings (breaking ties among tied teams)

4. Combined conference win percentage of conference opponents

5. Higher ranking by the Team Rating Score metric (from SportSource Analytics)

6. Draw administered by the Big Ten commissioner

1. Combined head-to-head among tied teams

1a. If all tied teams are not common opponents, if any tied team defeated each of the other tied teams

2. Win percentage against all common conference opponents

3. Win percentage against common opponents from top-to-bottom of the conference standings (breaking ties among tied teams)

4. Combined conference win percentage of conference opponents

5. Higher ranking by the Team Rating Score metric (from SportSource Analytics)

6. Draw administered by the Big Ten commissioner

Southeastern Conference

Conference’s tiebreaker policy

Two-team tie:

1. Head-to-head

2. Win percentage against common conference opponents

3. Win percentage against common opponents from top-to-bottom of the conference standings (breaking ties among tied teams: if a two-team tiebreaker will not break a tie, combined records against tied common opponents will be used)

4. Combined conference win percentage of conference opponents

5. Higher relative total scoring margin against all conference opponents (from SportSource Analytics)

6. Random draw

Three-plus team tie: In case of a tie for both conference championship spots, once the tiebreaker identifies one championship game representative, it will start over with the remaining tied teams.

1. Combined head-to-head among tied teams (if all tied teams are common opponents)

1a. If all tied teams are not common opponents, if any tied team defeated each of the other tied teams

1b. If all tied teams are not common opponents, and no tied team defeated each of the other tied teams, but a tied team lost to each of the other tied teams, that team is eliminated

2. Record against all common conference opponents

3. Win percentage against common opponents from top-to-bottom of the conference standings (breaking ties among tied teams; if a two-team tiebreaker will not break a tie, combined records against tied common opponents will be used)

4. Combined conference win percentage of conference opponents

5. Higher relative total scoring margin against all conference opponents (from SportSource Analytics)

6. Random draw

American Athletic Conference

Conference’s tiebreaker policy

Two-team tie:

1. Head-to-head

2. If one team is ranked in the latest CFP rankings (and didn’t lose in the final weekend of the regular season)

2a. If one team is ranked in the latest CFP rankings and lost in the final weekend of the regular season, a composite average of selected metrics will be used

2b. If both teams are ranked, the higher-ranked team that didn’t lose in the final weekend of the regular season (if both lose, a composite average of metrics)

2c. If neither team is ranked in the latest CFP rankings, a composite average of selected metrics will be used

3. Win percentage against common conference opponents

4. Overall win percentage (conference and nonconference) excluding exempt games

5. Coin toss

Three-plus team tie: In case of a tie for both conference championship spots, once the tiebreaker identifies one championship game representative, it will start over with the remaining tied teams.

1. Combined head-to-head (if all teams played each other)

1a. If one tied team defeated all other tied teams

2. If the highest-ranked team in the latest CFP rankings that didn’t lose in the final weekend of the regular season

2a. If the highest-ranked team loses in final weekend of regular season, a composite average of selected metrics will be used

2b. If multiple ranked teams in the CFP rankings, the highest ranked team(s) that wins in the final weekend of the regular season

2c. If all ranked teams lose on the final weekend, a composite average of selected metrics will be used

2d. If no teams are ranked in the final CFP rankings, a composite average of selected metrics will be used

3. Win percentage against common conference opponents

4. Overall win percentage (conference and nonconference) excluding exempt games

5. Coin toss

Conference USA

Conference’s tiebreaker policy

Two-team tie and three-team tie:

1. Head-to-head

2. Highest CFP rankings going into the final weekend (if team wins in the final weekend)

3. Highest average ranking of four computer rankings (Connelly SP+, SportSource, ESPN SOR, KPI Rankings)

4. Highest average ranking of two computer rankings (SportSource, KPI Rankings)

5. Highest most recently published multiyear football Academic Progress Rate (if same, most recent year)

6. Draw administered by commissioner’s designee

Mid-American Conference

Conference’s tiebreaker policy

Two-team tie:

1. Head-to-head

2. Win percentage against common opponents

3. Win percentage against common opponents based on MAC finish (breaking ties) from top-to-bottom of conference

4. Combined conference win percentage of conference opponents

5. Higher ranking by Team Rating Score metric (SportSource Analytics)

6. Draw administered by MAC commissioner

Three-team tie:

1. Combined head-to-head (if all teams played each other)

2. If one tied team defeated all other tied teams

3. Win percentage against all common opponents

4. Win percentage against all common opponents based on finish (with ties broken)

5. Combined conference win percentage of conference opponents

6. Higher ranking by Team Rating Score metric (SportSource Analytics)

7. Draw administered by MAC commissioner

Mountain West Conference

Conference’s tiebreaker policy

Two-team tie:

1. Head-to-head

2. Highest CFP ranking (if team wins in the final weekend)

2a. If only or both CFP ranked teams loses in the final weekend (or if there is no ranked teams), an average of metrics will be used

3. Overall win percentage (conference and nonconference)

4. Record against the next-highest team in the conference standings (tied teams will be lumped together if tied teams played all those teams)

5. Win percentage against common conference opponents

6. Coin toss conducted virtually by the commissioner

Three-plus team tie:

1. Combined head-to-head (if all teams played each other)

2. If one tied team defeated all other tied teams

3. Highest CFP ranking among teams to win in the final weekend

4. Average of selected metrics (if ranked team loses or if no teams ranked)

5. Overall win percentage against all opponents (conference and nonconference); maximum one win against FCS or lower-division team

6. Record against the next-highest team in the conference standings (tied teams will be lumped together if tied teams played all those teams)

7. Win percentage against common conference opponents

8. Drawing conducted virtually by the commissioner

Sun Belt Conference

Conference’s tiebreaker policy

Two-team tie

1. Head-to-head

2. Overall win percentage

3. Win percentage against the next-highest team in the division standings (lumping together tied teams)

4. Win percentage against all common nondivisional conference opponents

5. Higher-ranked teams in the CFP rankings (if it wins in the final regular season week); if the highest-ranked team loses, an average of selected computer rankings (Anderson & Hester, Massey, Colley and Wolfe)

6. If no team is ranked in the CFP rankings, an average of selected computer rankings (Anderson & Hester, Massey, Colley and Wolfe)

7. Overall win percentage (conference and nonconference) against FBS teams

8. Coin toss

Three-plus team tie: (Teams will not revert to two-team tiebreaker once three-plus team tiebreaker is trimmed to two.)

1. Combined head-to-head

2. Divisional win percentage

3. Win percentage against the next-highest team in the division standings (lumping together tied teams)

4. Highest-ranked team in the CFP rankings (if they win in the final weekend of regular season); if that team loses, an average of selected computer rankings

5. If no team is ranked in the CFP rankings, an average of selected computer rankings (Anderson & Hester, Massey, Colley and Wolfe)

6. Overall win percentage (conference and nonconference) against FBS teams

7. Draw lots (conducted by commissioner)

Check out the ESPN college football hub page for the latest news, analysis, schedules, rankings and more.

Sports

Soto will take time in free agency, Boras says

Published

8 hours ago

November 6, 2024

admin

Soto will take time in free agency, Boras says

Jesse Rogers, ESPN Staff WriterNov 6, 2024, 02:32 PM ET
Close

SAN ANTONIO — Juan Soto will take his time surveying the free agent market before signing with a team, according to his agent Scott Boras.

Speaking at the general manager’s meetings Wednesday, Boras indicated that Soto desires a “thorough” vetting before making a decision.

“Due to the volume of interest and Juan’s desire to hear [from teams], I can’t put a timeframe on it, but it’s going to be a very thorough process for him,” Boras said. “He wants to meet people personally. He wants to talk with them. He wants to hear from them.”

That includes ownership, even for the New York Yankees, for whom he played in 2024 and hit 41 home runs with a league-leading 128 runs scored. Soto helped New York to a World Series appearance, but that doesn’t necessarily give the Yankees a leg up on the competition to sign him.

“He wants ownership that’s going to support that they are going win annually,” Boras said. “Owners want to meet with Juan and sit down and talk with him about what they’re going to provide for their franchise short term and long term.”

Soto’s overall deal is likely to be at least the second largest in MLB history behind Shohei Ohtani‘s 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Boras refused to compare the two players, but stressed Soto’s age (26) as a distinctive factor in teams’ pursuit of his client. Ohtani was 29 when he hit free agency.

“I don’t think Ohtani has much to do with Juan Soto at all,” Boras said. “It’s not something we discuss or consider. … He’s in an age category that separates him.”

Both New York teams have spoken to Boras already, though there are a handful of other big-market franchises that could be in play for his services, including the San Francisco Giants and Toronto Blue Jays.

Boras was asked how the competitive balance tax on payrolls could impact Soto’s free agency.

“I don’t think tax considerations are the focal point when you’re talking about a business opportunity where you can make literally billions of dollars by acquiring somebody like this,” Boras said.

Boras and Soto are only at the beginning stages of what could be a drawn-out process. One thing going for the player, in Boras’ estimation, is that Soto is “pretty well known” considering he has already been on three teams and played in 43 playoff games, including twice in the World Series.

In his agent’s eyes, every winning team should be interested.

“They’re [team executives] called upon to be championship magicians,” Boras said. “Behind every great magician is the magic Juan.”

Sports

Sources: Angels add ex-Cubs RHP Hendricks

Published

8 hours ago

November 6, 2024

admin

Sources: Angels add ex-Cubs RHP Hendricks

Jesse Rogers, ESPN Staff WriterNov 6, 2024, 01:14 PM ET
Close

SAN ANTONIO — Free agent pitcher Kyle Hendricks has agreed to a one year, $2.5 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels, sources familiar with the situation told ESPN.

Hendricks, 34, posted a 5.92 ERA for the Chicago Cubs last season but was better in the second half after a stint in the bullpen. His ERA was 4.41 from mid-July to the end of the regular season. He threw 7⅓ shutout innings in his last start as a Cub in late September after spending the first 11 years of his career with Chicago.

The Angels are hoping Hendricks finds more consistency in 2025, similar to what he displayed at times late in 2024. They also have a young pitching staff that needs mentoring. Hendricks can help in that department as well.

Hendricks won the ERA title in 2016, helping the Cubs to a World Series title. He was the last member of that team still playing for the Cubs until he became a free agent after the 2024 season. Overall, he’s 97-81 with a 3.68 ERA.

Hendricks is from the Los Angeles area, having gone to Capistrano Valley High School in Mission Viejo, California. He was originally drafted by the Angels in the 39th round in 2008 before attending Dartmouth. Additionally, his dad worked in the Angels’ ticket office for six years when Hendricks was a teenager.