Melbourne Cup Field 2022: 4 Things To Know
Horse racing is one of Australia’s favourite past times. And when it comes to thoroughbred competitions, the Melbourne Cup—otherwise known as the race that stops the nation—is hard to beat.
Based on last year’s records, each Australian spent AUD$179 on average for the Cup, AUD$88 for punting, and AUD$91 for social events linked to the Carnival. Additionally, organiser Victoria Racing Club reported AUD$724.1 million in betting revenues for the four-day Melbourne Cup Carnival 2021—representing a 7.6% increase from the previous year.
As the Carnival’s highlight, the Melbourne Cup attracts worldwide bettors because of its complex challenges. Guessing the potential winner from the field can be tough and exciting, considering the number of runners, race conditions, and the track.
If you want to know more about the Melb Cup field 2022, as others may be fond of calling it, read on as we present some interesting facts.
- Understanding the Melbourne Cup field
In horse racing terms, the field means the list of contenders for the race. For the Melbourne Cup, the list of 24 top gallopers will be announced on a Saturday evening before the race, slated on the first Tuesday of November.
Hence, this year’s Melbourne Cup final field will be announced on 29 October 2022, or just three days before the Melb Cup on 01 November at 3 PM Australian time. Other major competitions, like the Cox Plate and Caulfield Cup, are staged in the weeks following the Cup.
Most bettors eagerly await the results of these competitions as some Cup finalists also qualify for these events. Winners of both events, if nominated for the Melbourne Cup, will likely make it to the Melbourne Cup field or the final line-up.
Given the importance of studying a qualifying runner’s performance, it’s highly recommended for bettors, especially beginners, to find reliable sources of information, including this channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSqgmNBQDpoUIZPNB6CkUHg. Fans can check race betting tips and updates, such as the Melbourne Cup 2022 final field, odds, and past and present racing videos, by viewing or clicking the link.
- Qualifying for the Melbourne Cup field
Nominations for the Melbourne Cup field are conducted through the balloting process. Connections must pay fees to have their horses run the race.
The initial line-up for Melbourne Cup 2022 consisted of 186 horses, narrowed down to 96 in September for the first acceptance stage, following the withdrawal of five-year-old gelding Dawn Patrol.
The final field is often taken from the order of entry, which ranks horses based on their abilities. The initial list was revealed on 13 September alongside the gallopers’ assigned weights.
As a handicap race, the Cup aims to level the playing field by allocating specific weights to runners. The Cup, which runs on the Flemington racecourse with a steeple and straight track, has allocations of 49 kg to 58 kg. This load includes the jockey and the saddle’s weight.
Some races allow winners to skip balloting. Besides the Cox Plate and Caulfield Cup mentioned earlier, the winning horse for Andrew Ramsden, Lexus Stakes, and Bart Cummings may earn their spot on the Melbourne Cup final field.
- The Melbourne Cup field has the most runners among prestigious horse races
It’s not an understatement to say that betting on the Melbourne Cup finals is challenging, especially for a beginner who has yet to learn horse racing basics. That’s because the Cup’s field can accommodate a maximum of 24 horses–the most runners in any prestigious horse racing event.
For instance, the Everest Race, which overtook the Melbourne Cup as Australia’s richest race, has a final field of 12 participants. Founded in 2017, Everest is held in October at the 1,200-meter Royal Randwick racecourse, boasting AUS$15 million in prize pot, almost double the Melbourne Cup’s AUD$8 million.
In addition, the United State’s Kentucky Derby, happening every first Saturday of May, has 20 runners. This race, which had its maiden run in 1875, or 14 years after the Melbourne Cup, is held at the Churchill Downs racetrack.
The world’s richest race, the Saudi Cup, also had fewer runners than its Australian counterpart. The 2022 Saudi Cup held in February had 14 runners vying for a share of the USD$20 million total prize money.
- The barrier draw is something to look forward to
After the Melbourne Cup final field announcement, connections are expected to attend the barrier draw on a Saturday evening, hours after the final declarations. This activity is broadcast to the public as it significantly impacts the betting odds and will likely impact the race outcomes.
A barrier indicates a horse’s position in the stalls. Some believe this affects a runner’s performance, giving an advantage to runners closest to the centre of the track. While this theory remains contentious, some racing analysts and bettors have studied the barriers that produced the least and the greatest number of Melbourne Cup winners.
Final thoughts
It’s too early to tell which of the nominated runners will make up the Cup’s final field. Punters and fans will have to wait until 29 October to find out, although the top performers on the order of entry provide clues to the probable contenders in the final field.
Meanwhile, racing enthusiasts can review the top runners’ performance history and previous Melbourne Cup results to build up their knowledge about the game and some betting tips. The odds may also be considered, as it indicates the horses most likely to win according to the bookmakers’ analysis.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of Geek Vibes Nation. This article is for educational purposes only.
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