Melbourne Cup Winners: Every Winner Since 1861 and Records

Melbourne Cup winners range from Archer in 1861 to Half Yours in 2025, with Makybe Diva the only three-time champion. Here is every winner of the race that stops a nation, with each jockey and trainer, plus the race records, before the 2026 Melbourne Cup on Tuesday 3 November.

The 166th Melbourne Cup (3200m) will be run at Flemington on the first Tuesday in November, worth $10.2 million this year. Half Yours, who completed the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup double last year, is back to defend his title and was set to carry topweight of 59kg after second declarations.

If he wins again, Half Yours will join Archer, Rain Lover, Think Big and Makybe Diva as the only horses to win the Cup in consecutive years. Peter Pan is the other dual winner, but his wins in 1932 and 1934 were two years apart.

Third declarations close on Monday 26 October, and Point Of Law’s Geelong Cup win has already locked one more runner into the field. Before the barriers are drawn, here is the full honour roll, checked against the Victoria Racing Club’s official Melbourne Cup honour roll.

Melbourne Cup winners: the quick facts

First run: 1861, won by Archer for trainer Etienne de Mestre and jockey John Cutts. Archer won again in 1862.
Most wins by a horse: Makybe Diva, three (2003, 2004 and 2005).
Most wins by a jockey: Bobbie Lewis (1902, 1915, 1919 and 1927) and Harry White (1974, 1975, 1978 and 1979), four each.
Most wins by a trainer: Bart Cummings, 12, from Light Fingers in 1965 to Viewed in 2008.
Most wins by an owner: Lloyd Williams, seven, most recently with Twilight Payment in 2020.
Fastest time: Kingston Rule, 3:16.30 in 1990.

Every Melbourne Cup winner since 1861

Each winner is listed with the jockey first, then the trainer, newest first within each decade. The race has been run every year since 1861, so there are 165 winners heading into 2026.

Melbourne Cup winners in the 2020s

2025: Half Yours (Jamie Melham, Tony and Calvin McEvoy)
2024: Knight’s Choice (Robbie Dolan, John Symons and Sheila Laxon)
2023: Without A Fight (Mark Zahra, Anthony and Sam Freedman)
2022: Gold Trip (Mark Zahra, Ciaron Maher and David Eustace)
2021: Verry Elleegant (James McDonald, Chris Waller)
2020: Twilight Payment (Jye McNeil, Joseph O’Brien)

Melbourne Cup winners in the 2010s

2019: Vow And Declare (Craig Williams, Danny O’Brien)
2018: Cross Counter (Kerrin McEvoy, Charlie Appleby)
2017: Rekindling (Corey Brown, Joseph O’Brien)
2016: Almandin (Kerrin McEvoy, Robert Hickmott)
2015: Prince of Penzance (Michelle Payne, Darren Weir)
2014: Protectionist (Ryan Moore, Andreas Wöhler)
2013: Fiorente (Damien Oliver, Gai Waterhouse)
2012: Green Moon (Brett Prebble, Robert Hickmott)
2011: Dunaden (Christophe Lemaire, Mikel Delzangles)
2010: Americain (Gérald Mossé, Alain de Royer-Dupré)

Melbourne Cup winners in the 2000s

2009: Shocking (Corey Brown, Mark Kavanagh)
2008: Viewed (Blake Shinn, Bart Cummings)
2007: Efficient (Michael Rodd, Graeme Rogerson)
2006: Delta Blues (Yasunari Iwata, Katsuhiko Sumii)
2005: Makybe Diva (Glen Boss, Lee Freedman)
2004: Makybe Diva (Glen Boss, Lee Freedman)
2003: Makybe Diva (Glen Boss, David Hall)
2002: Media Puzzle (Damien Oliver, Dermot K. Weld)
2001: Ethereal (Scott Seamer, Sheila Laxon)
2000: Brew (Kerrin McEvoy, Mike Moroney)

Melbourne Cup winners in the 1990s

1999: Rogan Josh (John Marshall, Bart Cummings)
1998: Jezabeel (Chris Munce, Brian Jenkins)
1997: Might and Power (Jim Cassidy, Jack Denham)
1996: Saintly (Darren Beadman, Bart Cummings)
1995: Doriemus (Damien Oliver, Lee Freedman)
1994: Jeune (Wayne Harris, David Hayes)
1993: Vintage Crop (Michael Kinane, Dermot K. Weld)
1992: Subzero (Greg Hall, Lee Freedman)
1991: Let’s Elope (Steven King, Bart Cummings)
1990: Kingston Rule (Darren Beadman, Bart Cummings)

Melbourne Cup winners in the 1980s

1989: Tawrrific (Shane Dye, Lee Freedman)
1988: Empire Rose (Tony Allan, Laurie Laxon)
1987: Kensei (Larry Olsen, Les J. Bridge)
1986: At Talaq (Michael Clarke, Colin Hayes)
1985: What A Nuisance (Pat Hyland, John Meagher)
1984: Black Knight (Peter Cook, George Hanlon)
1983: Kiwi (Jim Cassidy, Ewen S. Lupton)
1982: Gurner’s Lane (Mick Dittman, Geoff Murphy)
1981: Just A Dash (Peter Cook, Tommy Smith)
1980: Beldale Ball (John Letts, Colin Hayes)

Melbourne Cup winners in the 1970s

1979: Hyperno (Harry White, Bart Cummings)
1978: Arwon (Harry White, George Hanlon)
1977: Gold and Black (John Duggan, Bart Cummings)
1976: Van der Hum (Robert J. Skelton, Len H. Robinson)
1975: Think Big (Harry White, Bart Cummings)
1974: Think Big (Harry White, Bart Cummings)
1973: Gala Supreme (Frank Reys, Ray Hutchins)
1972: Piping Lane (John Letts, George Hanlon)
1971: Silver Knight (Bruce Marsh, Eric Temperton)
1970: Baghdad Note (Midge Didham, Robert Heasley)

Melbourne Cup winners in the 1960s

1969: Rain Lover (Jim Johnson, Mick L. Robins)
1968: Rain Lover (Jim Johnson, Mick L. Robins)
1967: Red Handed (Roy Higgins, Bart Cummings)
1966: Galilee (John Miller, Bart Cummings)
1965: Light Fingers (Roy Higgins, Bart Cummings)
1964: Polo Prince (Ron Taylor, John P. Carter)
1963: Gatum Gatum (Jim Johnson, H. Graeme Heagney)
1962: Even Stevens (Les Coles, Arch McGregor)
1961: Lord Fury (Ray Selkrig, Frank B. Lewis)
1960: Hi Jinx (William A. Smith, Trevor H. Knowles)

Melbourne Cup winners in the 1950s

1959: Macdougal (Pat Glennon, Richard W. Roden)
1958: Baystone (Mel Schumacher, Jack Green)
1957: Straight Draw (Noel L. McGrowdie, J. M. Mitchell)
1956: Evening Peal (George Podmore, E. D. Lawson)
1955: Toparoa (Neville Sellwood, Tommy Smith)
1954: Rising Fast (Jack Purtell, Ivan Tucker)
1953: Wodalla (Jack Purtell, Robert Sinclair)
1952: Dalray (Bill Williamson, C. C. McCarthy)
1951: Delta (Neville Sellwood, Maurice McCarten)
1950: Comic Court (Pat Glennon, Jim Cummings)

Melbourne Cup winners in the 1940s

1949: Foxzami (William Fellows, Dan Lewis)
1948: Rimfire (Ray Neville, Stan Boyden)
1947: Hiraji (Jack Purtell, Jim McCurley)
1946: Russia (Darby Munro, E. Hush)
1945: Rainbird (Billy Cook, Sam Evans)
1944: Sirius (Darby Munro, E. Fisher)
1943: Dark Felt (Vic Hartney, Ray Webster)
1942: Colonus (Harry McCloud, Frank Manning)
1941: Skipton (Billy Cook, Jack Fryer)
1940: Old Rowley (Andy Knox, Jack Scully)

Melbourne Cup winners in the 1930s

1939: Rivette (Teddy Preston, Harry Bamber)
1938: Catalogue (Fred Shean, Allan McDonald)
1937: The Trump (Ashley Reed, Stanley Reid)
1936: Wotan (Ossie Phillips, Jack Fryer)
1935: Marabou (Keith Voitre, Lou Robertson)
1934: Peter Pan (Darby Munro, Frank McGrath)
1933: Hall Mark (Jack O’Sullivan, Jack Holt)
1932: Peter Pan (Bill Duncan, Frank McGrath)
1931: White Nose (Neville Percival, E. J. Hatwell)
1930: Phar Lap (James E. Pike, Harry Telford)

Melbourne Cup winners in the 1920s

1929: Nightmarch (Roy Reed, Alec McAulay)
1928: Statesman (James L. Munro, William Kelso)
1927: Trivalve (Bobbie Lewis, James Scobie)
1926: Spearfelt (Hugh Harold Cairns, V. O’Neill)
1925: Windbag (James L. Munro, George R. Price)
1924: Backwood (Bunty Brown, Richard Bradfield)
1923: Bitalli (Alan Wilson, James Scobie)
1922: King Ingoda (Alan Wilson, James Scobie)
1921: Sister Olive (Ted O’Sullivan, Jack Williams)
1920: Poitrel (Ken Bracken, Harry J. Robinson)

Melbourne Cup winners in the 1910s

1919: Artilleryman (Bobbie Lewis, Phillip T. Heywood)
1918: Night Watch (Bill Duncan, Richard Bradfield)
1917: Westcourt (William H. McLachlan, Joseph Burton)
1916: Sasanof (Fred Foley, Murray Hobbs)
1915: Patrobas (Bobbie Lewis, Charlie Wheeler)
1914: Kingsburgh (George Meddick, Isaac Foulsham)
1913: Posinatus (Albert Shanahan, James Chambers)
1912: Piastre (Albert Shanahan, Richard O’Connor)
1911: The Parisian (Ronald Cameron, Charlie Wheeler)
1910: Comedy King (William H. McLachlan, James Lynch)

Melbourne Cup winners in the 1900s

1909: Prince Foote (William H. McLachlan, Frank McGrath)
1908: Lord Nolan (John R. Flynn, Earnest A. Mayo)
1907: Apologue (Bill Evans, Isaac Earnshaw)
1906: Poseidon (Tom Clayton, Isaac Earnshaw)
1905: Blue Spec (Frank Bullock, Walter Hickenbotham)
1904: Acrasia (Tom Clayton, Albert E. Wills)
1903: Lord Cardigan (Norman Godby, Albert E. Cornwell)
1902: The Victory (Bobbie Lewis, Richard Bradfield)
1901: Revenue (Frederick J. Dunn, Hugh Munro)
1900: Clean Sweep (Andrew Richardson, James Scobie)

Melbourne Cup winners in the 1890s

1899: Merriwee (Vivian Turner, James Wilson Jr)
1898: The Grafter (John Gough, William Forrester)
1897: Gaulus (Stephen Callinan, William Forrester)
1896: Newhaven (Harry Gardiner, Walter Hickenbotham)
1895: Auraria (John Stevenson, John Hill)
1894: Patron (Horace G. Dawes, Richard Bradfield)
1893: Tarcoola (Herbert Cripps, Joseph Cripps)
1892: Glenloth (George Robson, Michael Carmody)
1891: Malvolio (George Redfearn, James Redfearn)
1890: Carbine (Robert Ramage, Walter Hickenbotham)

Melbourne Cup winners in the 1880s

1889: Bravo (Jack Anwin, Tommy Wilson)
1888: Mentor (Mick O’Brien, Walter Hickenbotham)
1887: Dunlop (Tom Sanders, John Nicholson)
1886: Arsenal (William English, Harry Rayner)
1885: Sheet Anchor (Mick O’Brien, Tommy Wilson)
1884: Malua (Alec Robertson, Isaac Foulsham)
1883: Martini-Henry (John Williamson, Michael Fennelly)
1882: The Assyrian (Charles Hutchins, John Eden Savill)
1881: Zulu (Jim Gough, Tom Lamond)
1880: Grand Flaneur (Thomas Hales, Thomas Brown)

Melbourne Cup winners in the 1870s

1879: Darriwell (Sam Cracknell, William E. Dakin)
1878: Calamia (Thomas Brown, Etienne de Mestre)
1877: Chester (Paddy Pigott, Etienne de Mestre)
1876: Briseis (Peter St Albans, James Wilson)
1875: Wollomai (Robert Batty, Stephen Moon)
1874: Haricot (Paddy Pigott, Sam Harding)
1873: Don Juan (William Wilson, James Wilson)
1872: The Quack (William Enderson, John Tait)
1871: The Pearl (John Kavanagh, John Tait)
1870: Nimblefoot (John Day, William Lang)

Melbourne Cup winners in the 1860s

1869: Warrior (Joe Morrison, Robert Sevior)
1868: Glencoe (Charles Stanley, John Tait)
1867: Tim Whiffler (John Driscoll, Etienne de Mestre)
1866: The Barb (William Davis, John Tait)
1865: Toryboy (John Kavanagh, Pat Miley)
1864: Lantern (Sam Davis, William Filgate)
1863: Banker (Harry Chifney, Sam Waldock)
1862: Archer (John Cutts, Etienne de Mestre)
1861: Archer (John Cutts, Etienne de Mestre)

Melbourne Cup records: horses

Three wins: Makybe Diva (2003, 2004 and 2005), the only horse to win the Cup three times. She won the first for David Hall and the next two for Lee Freedman.
Two wins: Archer (1861 and 1862), Peter Pan (1932 and 1934), Rain Lover (1968 and 1969) and Think Big (1974 and 1975).
Weight: Carbine carried a record 10 stone 5 pounds to victory in 1890, in a field of 39, the biggest in Cup history. The field is now capped at 24 runners.
Fastest: Kingston Rule ran 3:16.30 in 1990. The race was run over two miles until 1971 and has been 3200m since 1972.
Biggest margin: eight lengths, by Archer in 1862 and Rain Lover in 1968.
Closest finish: Dunaden beat Red Cadeaux in 2011 in what is recorded as the closest finish in the race’s history.
Oldest winners: Toryboy (1865), Catalogue (1938) and Twilight Payment (2020) all won as eight-year-olds.
Longshots: Prince of Penzance won at 100/1 in 2015, only the fourth horse to win the Cup at those odds.

Melbourne Cup records: jockeys

Four wins: Bobbie Lewis and Harry White.
Three wins: William McLachlan (1909, 1910 and 1917), Darby Munro (1934, 1944 and 1946), Jack Purtell (1947, 1953 and 1954), Jim Johnson (1963, 1968 and 1969), Damien Oliver (1995, 2002 and 2013), Glen Boss (2003, 2004 and 2005) and Kerrin McEvoy (2000, 2016 and 2018).
Glen Boss is the only jockey to win three Cups in a row, all on Makybe Diva.
Michelle Payne became the first woman to ride a Melbourne Cup winner on Prince of Penzance in 2015.

Melbourne Cup records: trainers and owners

Bart Cummings won 12 Melbourne Cups, more than double anyone else, earning him the title of the Cups King. His winners were Light Fingers, Galilee, Red Handed, Think Big (twice), Gold and Black, Hyperno, Kingston Rule, Let’s Elope, Saintly, Rogan Josh and Viewed.
Five wins: Etienne de Mestre (1861, 1862, 1867, 1877 and 1878) and Lee Freedman (1989, 1992, 1995, 2004 and 2005).
Sheila Laxon became the first woman officially credited with training a Melbourne Cup winner when Ethereal won in 2001. Gai Waterhouse followed with Fiorente in 2013.
Lloyd Williams has owned or part-owned a record seven winners: Just A Dash, What A Nuisance, Efficient, Green Moon, Almandin, Rekindling and Twilight Payment.

International Melbourne Cup winners

Irish trainer Dermot Weld changed the race in 1993 when Vintage Crop became the first northern hemisphere-trained winner, and he won it again with Media Puzzle in 2002. Delta Blues gave Japan its first win in 2006, Americain was the first French-trained winner in 2010, and Dunaden made it two in a row for France in 2011. Protectionist (2014, Germany), Cross Counter (2018, Britain) and Joseph O’Brien’s Rekindling (2017) and Twilight Payment (2020) have kept the overseas raiders in the hunt.

Who joins the Melbourne Cup winners list in 2026?

The 2026 winner will become the 166th name on the honour roll. Half Yours, Knight’s Choice and a strong overseas team, including Joseph O’Brien’s Defiantly and Japan’s Stinger Glass, were among the 58 horses left after second declarations. For form on every runner as the field takes shape, open TSB’s free Racing Form Guide.

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