Each year, on the first Tuesday of November, the eyes of the racing world are on Flemington Racecourse for the Melbourne Cup.
'The race that stops a nation' has cemented itself as a key part of Australian culture ever since its first running in 1861 and the day itself is even a public holiday in the state of Victoria.
We take a look at the previous winners of the race all the way back to 1970...
Half Yours is the most recent winner of the race, recording a facile success in 2025. Trained by the father-son duo of Tony & Calvin McEvoy, the five-year-old was well ahead of his mark when he rocked up to Flemington having won the Caulfield Cup just three weeks prior.
This continued Australia's good recent record in the race after a spurt of overseas winners through the 2010s and early 2020s.
Joseph O'Brien accounted for both Rekindling and Twilight Payment in 2017 & 2020 respectively, while Charlie Appleby brought Cross Counter over from Newmarket to become Britain's first-ever Melbourne Cup winner.
Although not trained in Britain, three-time winner Maykbe Diva was foaled in Somerset before making a journey down to the Southern Hemisphere to commence her racing career. Not only did she win the Melbourne Cup in 2003, 2004 & 2005 but she also took out the 2005 Cox Plate.
Ireland have fared much better than Britain in the Flemington showpiece down the years; Dermot Weld very much paving the way for future successes.
Weld trained Vintage Crop to become the first horse from the Northern Hemisphere to win the Melbourne Cup in 1993 and later repeated the trick with Media Puzzle in 2002.
Melbourne Cup previous winners (1970-onwards)
Year | Name |
2025 | Half Yours |
2024 | Knight's Choice |
2023 | Without A Fight |
2022 | Gold Trip |
2021 | Very Elleegant |
2020 | Twilight Payment |
2019 | Vow And Declare |
2018 | Cross Counter |
2017 | Rekindling |
2016 | Almandin |
2015 | Prince Of Penzance |
2014 | Protectionist |
2013 | Fiorente |
2012 | Green Moon |
2011 | Dunaden |
2010 | Americain |
2009 | Shocking |
2008 | Viewed |
2007 | Efficient |
2006 | Delta Blues |
2005 | Makybe Diva |
2004 | Makybe Diva |
2003 | Makybe Diva |
2002 | Media Puzzle |
2001 | Ethereal |
2000 | Brew |
1999 | Rogan Josh |
1998 | Jezabeel |
1997 | Might And Power |
1996 | Saintly |
1995 | Doriemus |
1994 | Jeune |
1993 | Vintage Crop |
1992 | Subzero |
1991 | Let's Elope |
1990 | Kingston Rule |
1989 | Tawrrific |
1988 | Empire Rose |
1987 | Kensei |
1986 | At Talaq |
1985 | What A Nuisance |
1984 | Black Knight |
1983 | Kiwi |
1982 | Gurner's Lane |
1981 | Just A Dash |
1980 | Beldale Ball |
1979 | Hyperno |
1978 | Arwon |
1977 | Gold And Black |
1976 | Van Der Hum |
1975 | Think Big |
1974 | Think Big |
1973 | Gala Supreme |
1972 | Piping Lane |
1971 | Silver Knight |
1970 | Baghdad Note |
