All was silent as jockey rode to victory

Tony Wright   Michelle Payne doesn't remember hearing a thing as she and Prince of Penzance thundered towards the winning post.

Spring Racing Carnival news

Prince of Penzance owners to try 'space travel'

All smiles: Connections of winner Prince Of Penzance celebrate moments after the Melbourne Cup.

Matt Murnane   Having won the Melbourne Cup with the first horse they ever bought into, it's hard to know where to go from here for the minority owners of Prince of Penzance.

Advice sought on Red Cadeaux treatment

Gerald Mosse on Red Cadeaux.

Patrick Bartley   Red Cadeaux's trainer Ed Dunlop will seek advice from veterinary surgeons around the world about the best course of treatment for his brave English-born stayer.

Reality eclipses dreams of Cup-winning pair

Michelle Payne celebrates her winning ride with brother and strapper Steven Payne.

Peter Hanlon   Darren Weir, trainer of Melbourne Cup winner Prince Of Penzance, dreamed when he started out of winning a Stawell Cup, a Ballarat Cup, a Swan Hill Cup.

A beautiful Australian story, says top trainer

Michelle Payne rides to the front on Prince of Penzance to win the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday.

Patrick Bartley    Champion trainer Gai Waterhouse said that all Australian's should rejoice and celebrate the Melbourne Cup-winning performance of Michelle Payne and her family.

Prince of Penzance wins the Melbourne Cup

Breakthrough: Michelle Payne is the first woman to ride a Cup winner.

Michael Lynch   Michelle Payne became the first ever woman jockey to win the Melbourne Cup when she pulled off a 100-1 shock to win Australia's greatest race aboard Prince of Penzance.

Internationals close, but no cigar in Cup

The internationals didn't have it all their own way in the Melbourne Cup. French horse Max Dynamite did best, coming in ...

Michael Lynch   For the international raiders who have become such a prominent part of the Victorian spring carnival, it was a race of near triumph.

Fairytale win a fitting reward

Michelle Payne celebrates her winning ride with brother and strapper Steven Payne.

Tony Wright   On a perfect day, Michelle Payne, a young woman who has had to shoulder her elegant way through what has long been a man's game, took Prince of Penzance to the front in the main straight and stayed there.

Trainer confirms Red Cadeaux retirement

Red Cadeaux.

Patrick Bartley   Three-time runner-up Red Cadeaux has been rushed to a veterinary clinic at Werribee after breaking down close to the winning post during his fifth attempt at winning a Melbourne Cup.

Outsider salutes at record odds

Prince of Penzance's win was a massive shock.

Daniel Cherny   It was a historic Melbourne Cup in numerous respects, not least the price of the winner.

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Part-owner and jockey defy all the odds

Andrew Webster headshot dinkus

Andrew Webster   The female hoop's amazing win is an inspiration for others.

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Melbourne Cup 2015: As it happened

Michelle Payne described horse racing as a "chauvinistic" sport.

Live coverage of the 2015 Melbourne Cup from Age reporters trackside, in the Birdcage and behind the scenes at Flemington Racecourse.

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Snow Sky classified last finisher in Cup

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained Snow Sky.

Michael Lynch   English trained blueblood Snow Sky was the horse classified as the last to finish in the Melbourne Cup.

Melbourne Cup 2015 results: finishing order

A general view on Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington Racecourse.

Where your horse finished in the Melbourne Cup.

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Dettori fined $20,000 and outed

Jockey Frankie Dettori

​Frankie Dettori's equal best performance in a Melbourne Cup has ended with a hefty fine and a month on the sidelines for the flamboyant Italian jockey.

Doubters can 'get stuffed', says jockey

Michelle Payne described horse racing as a "chauvinistic" sport.

Tom Decent   Prince of Penzance has won the Melbourne Cup, ridden by the only woman in the field Michelle Payne and the first woman jockey to win racing's most prestigious race.

'Two-paced' Flemington track cops criticism

Generic horse racing.

Scott Spits   The Flemington race track is expected to even out ahead of the Melbourne Cup, after an inspection found a section in the middle remains softer than the inside.

Cummings, Freedman to the fore

Young gun: James Cummings poses with the trophy after Zarzali won at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day.

Michael Lynch   On a day forever synonymous with the memory of the late, great Bart Cummings, it was not just appropriate but surely ordained that his grandson James should have a winner early in the afternoon.

Tom Waterhouse's $5 million punt

Sertorius has been backed by Tom Waterhouse to the tune of $5 million.

Adam Pengilly   Bookmakers continue to wind out the price of Melbourne Cup favourite Fame Game as the race's outsider is the subject of a sensational bet at the Call Of The Card.

Officials talk down soft track concerns

Live coverage of the 2015 Melbourne Cup.

Patrick Bartley   Rail for the big race at Flemington will be moved out due to wet weather and effects of heavy Derby Day traffic

Melbourne Cup trading hours Melbourne: What’s open, what’s closed

Hats are the finishing touch to a great race-day outfit.

Robyn Grace   November 3 is a public holiday for the Melbourne Cup. This means restricted trading hours for many businesses.

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Racing in Dunlop's DNA

Ed Dunlop with Red Cadeaux and Trip to Paris.

Peter Hanlon   Ed Dunlop and Red Cadeaux are back, and this year he doubles his chances of a longed-for victory in a place he first visited at a time of great sadness.

Melbourne Cup is the sport of kings ...

Andrew Webster headshot dinkus

Andrew Webster   The day of the battler winning the Melbourne Cup is over.

Williams' brave leap ready to be rewarded

The great traveller: Jockey Craig Williams has succeeded at every turn.

Adam Pengilly   To Craig Williams the Melbourne Cup is "just another handicap". But if Hokko Brave can win it will become "the greatest race on earth".

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Lesson set to deliver Hartnell Melbourne Cup

Godolphin's Hartnell will run at the Melbourne Cup.

Chris Roots   Godolphin trainer John O'Shea believes Hartnell being beaten as an odds-on favourite in the Sydney Cup could be the lesson needed to deliver him a lifelong dream in the Melbourne Cup at Flemington on Tuesday.

Spencer's retirement plans shelved

The Michael Bell trained Big Orange works in trackwork at Werribee Racecourse on Sunday morning.

Michael Lynch   Twelve months ago former English and Irish champion jockey Jamie Spencer was waiting for the curtain to come down on his career. 

Internationals dominate Cup

The Yoshitada Munakata-trained Hokko Brave during a trackwork session for international horses competing in the ...

Michael Lynch   There have been numerous overseas trained winners of the Melbourne Cup since Vintage Crop's historical performance in 1993, when the Irish trained 

Latest odds and field for the Melbourne Cup

Melbourne Cup favourite Fame Game is put through his paces by Zac Purton at Werribee Racecourse.

Select any horse to get live field information, tips and up to the minute odds.

Fame Game scores ideal Cup draw

Fame Game's racing style is that he prefers to race inside horses.

Patrick Bartley   Melbourne Cup favourite Fame Game has drawn ideally in barrier 12 for Tuesday's $6.1 million Melbourne Cup.

Gai to the fore as racing's clouds lift

Centre of attention: Gai Waterhouse holds court after the Lexus.

Peter Hanlon   Some familiar old faces are smiling as Flemington's big week begins.

Welcome to Flemington and gates within gates

Punters enjoy the races at Flemington.

Timothy Boyle   There are a variety of experiences to be had by a seasonal punter at Flemington but most of them amount, eventually, to a grab at a grand idea that never quite sticks.

The spring reign: Lady Gai, track queen

Gai Waterhouse

Jim Bourke   It's a busy time of the year for the public figure and icon of Australian racing.

Tarzino wins $1.5 million Victoria Derby

Jockey Craig Newitt takes Tarzino to victory in the Victoria Derby.

Andrew Garvey and Patrick Bartley   The $1.5 million Victoria Derby had been a frustrating race for Caulfield trainer Mick Price but that was all forgotten on Saturday as the trainer finally went home a winner with Tarzino outstayed his rivals to takeout the 2500m group 1 classic.

An excess of Cup joy for Gai Waterhouse

Lexus Stakes

Michael Lynch   Nobody ever dies wondering about the chances of a Gai Waterhouse runner. In any race, at any time, on any track.

Lane mounts case, but Gai has knowledge

Gai Waterhouse

Michael Lynch   Sometimes the greatest drama and action can take place off the track.

2015 Melbourne Cup: The final field

Trainer Gai Waterhouse with the Cup

The final field of 24 horses for the 2015 Melbourne Cup on the first Tuesday in November at Flemington racecourse.

Cassidy to quit after Melbourne Cup carnival

Andrew Webster headshot dinkus

Andrew Webster   The Pumper reveals he will retire at the end of this Melbourne Cup carnival.

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Spring carnival: When tragedy strikes

Tragic day: A screen shields one of the distressed gallopers after the 2014 Melbourne Cup.

Peter Hanlon   The loss of two runners left an indelible mark on last year's Melbourne Cup – and those connected with the horses.

Why Sydney horses can rule at Flemington

Max Presnell

Max Presnell   It's Derby Day - one of best race days of the year. Here's what to get on.

The bookmakers' war for your dollar

Before the race that stops the nation, the RBA will announce its rates decision.

Anne Davies   There's a war raging for the gambling dollar as multinational online gambling houses slug it out for a share of a lucrative but overcrowded sports betting market in Australia, and it's pushing the boundaries of the law, writes Anne Davies.

Stratum Star can overcome wide draw

Top pick: Stratum Star is favoured for the Mackinnon.

Chris Roots   Stratum Star has group 1 weight-for-age placing and group 1 win this preparation, but the target for the four-year-old as always been the Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington on Derby day.

Master and apprentice back together

Top NSW jockey Brenton Avdulla is making a rare visit to Canberra.

Adam Pengilly   Brenton Avdulla had "never touched a horse" before he signed up to the John Moloney school of finishing. Now he has the chance to return the favour in the Victoria Derby.

MULTIMEDIA

Rails Run: Oaks Day

Our racing experts preview Thursday's Oaks Day at Flemington.

Prince of Penzance wins the Cup

Michelle Payne becomes the first-ever female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup, riding Prince of Penzance to victory.

Closing time at the Melbourne Cup

The punters on the public lawn shift their carnival celebrations up a gear as Melbourne Cup day winds down at Flemington.

'Get stuffed!' Winning jockey makes history

Michelle Payne made history by becoming the first woman to ride a Melbourne Cup winner. Then she let everyone know what she was thinking.

Michelle Payne: 'It's me and Stevie together'

Jockey Michelle Payne says her Melbourne Cup win was the first time she saw her brother Stevie get so emotional. Vision courtesy Seven News.

Timelapse: Melbourne Cup Day 2015

Join the Flemington flow with more than 100,000 racegoers, all enjoying the sun and the spectacle of the Melbourne Cup.

Punters flock to Flemington

Colour and sunshine returns to Flemington making for a magical combination both off and on the track.

There's no party like a Birdcage party

Party vibes abound at the Melbourne Cup, with local and international VIPs keeping the music, food and drinks going at the exclusive Birdcage marquees.

Female jockey makes Melbourne Cup history

Michelle Payne, riding Prince of Penzance, becomes the first woman to win the Melbourne Cup.

British royalty graces Flemington

Lady Kitty Spencer, niece of Princess Diana, brings a touch of royalty to the 2015 Melbourne Cup.

Melbourne Cup 2015: Where to watch, how to survive

It's the "race that stops a nation". Where will you see it?

Melbourne Cup sweep

DOWNLOAD: 2015 Cup sweep

Which Cup horse should you back?

The quiz will generate the horse's name that best matches your thinking on Melbourne Cup day.

The greatest Melbourne Cup field

Where do they finish in a race of great Melbourne Cup winners?

Test your knowledge with our fiendish quiz

Some of these are harder than finding a taxi after the last race.

Derby Day tips

Our experts preview the best race day of the year, Saturday's Derby Day at Flemington.

Cox Plate tips

Our racing experts preview Saturday's Cox Plate day at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

Protectionist wins Melbourne Cup

Protectionist romps away from the field to win by four lengths.

Admire Rakti dies after Cup

A short time after the Melbourne Cup was run, racehorse Admire Rakti died in Flemington's stables.

Melbourne Cup 2014: Horse-by-horse guide

After Derby day, the racing world knows who has made the cut.

2014 Derby Day at Flemington

Melbourne turned on a chilly spring day for the day loved by punters and casual racegoers.

Will to Win

Robert Thompson is not a household name. His stature (163 centimetres) and size (53 kilograms) make it easy enough to miss the hawkish athlete. Watching him compete means trying to fixate on a bouncing blur out there beyond the rails.

The 2014 Geelong Cup

It was a beautiful day in Geelong for the annual Geelong Cup.

Caulfield kick-starts spring racing season

Racing season starts off with a bang at Caulfield Racecourse, with the world's best horses set to hit the track, along with live music and of course, flowing champagne.

Horse racing: a jockey's point of view

See what a jockey sees as Robert Thompson moves his way through the racing pack to claim another win at Muswellbrook Race Club.

Our writers

Patrick Bartley Max Presnell
 
chris roots
 
adam pengilly
 
Michael Lynch
 
john holloway