Melbourne Cup 2021 prize money - How much does the Melbourne Cup winner make?

Brendan Bradford

Melbourne Cup 2021 prize money - How much does the Melbourne Cup winner make? image

The total prize pool for the 2021 Melbourne Cup is $8 million, with the winner receiving $4.4 million. 

The top 12 finishers all receive prize money, with sixth to 12th all taking home $160,000. 

The winner of the Melbourne Cup is also entitled to $250,000 worth of trophies, including to the owner, the jockey, the trainer, breeder and strapper. 

HOW MUCH MONEY DOES THE MELBOURNE CUP WINNER MAKE? 

The winner of the Melbourne Cup takes home a cool $4,400,000. 

In 2020, that was Twilight Payment.

HOW MUCH PRIZE MONEY DO MELBOURNE CUP PLACE GETTERS MAKE? 

Second place in the Melbourne Cup earns $1,100,000 and third place takes home $550,000. 

Here's a breakdown of the prize money for the top 12 finishers. 

Place Prize Money
1st $4,400,000
2nd $1,100,000
3rd  $550,000
4th  $350,000
5th  $230,000
6th $160,000
7th $160,000
8th $160,000
9th $160,000
10th $160,000
11th $160,000
12th $160,000

HOW IS MELBOURNE CUP PRIZE MONEY AWARDED? 

The connections of the winning Melbourne Cup horse are entitled to 85 per cent of the total prize money. 

That leaves 5 per cent for the jockey and 10 per cent for the trainer. 

HOW MUCH MONEY DOES A MELBOURNE CUP JOCKEY MAKE? 

Jockeys are paid 5 per cent of the total prize money of a horse for each race. 

In 2020, that meant the winner - Jye McNeil - pocketed $220,000. 

The second placed jockey makes $55,000 from the prize money, with third place taking home $27,500.

HOW MUCH MONEY DOES THE WINNING TRAINER MAKE? 

The winning trainer of the 2020 Melbourne Cup will make $440,000, which is 10 per cent of the $4.4 million cheque.

The second place trainer will make $110,000 and the third placed trainer earns $55,000.

WHAT ARE THE RICHEST HORSE RACES IN THE WORLD? 

The Melbourne Cup is right up there with the richest horse races on the planet, but it's not at the top. 

In terms of total prize pools, here are the richest horse races in the world. 

All figures AUD.

  Race Prize Pool
1 Saudi Cup $26.6 million
2 Dubai World Cup $15.96 million
3 The Everest $15 million
4 Melbourne Cup $8 million
5 The Breeders' Cup Classic $7.98 million
6 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe $7.69 million
7 Japan Cup $7.71 million
8 Caulfield Cup $5.15 million
9 Cox Plate $5 million
10 Kentucky Derby $3.99 million

Brendan Bradford