First race-meeting held at Flemington, with the winning post sited along the bank of the Maribyrnong River
1861
The first running of the Melbourne Cup won by Archer trained by Etienne De Mestre. The Cup is initially run on a Thursday
1869
VRC introduce a four day Spring Racing Carnival format
1870
Melbourne Cup is postponed one week due to rain
1875
Cup is first run on a Tuesday
1876
The three-year-old filly Briseis created a record that is never likely to be equalled, winning the VRC Derby, Melbourne Cup and VRC Oaks in the space of six days. She was ridden by 13 year old Peter St Albans
1877
The first Tuesday in November was declared a public holiday in Victoria
1880
First Melbourne Cup to attract 100,000 attendance. Cup won by the unbeaten Grand Flaneur
1882
First year bookmakers were licensed at Flemington
1888
First Gold whip presented to the winning Cup jockey (Mick O'Brien)
1890
Carbine won the Melbourne Cup in record time (3.28.25), carrying a record weight (65.5 kg) in the biggest field ever assembled (39)
1894
Strand starts are introduced to Flemington
1915
Mrs Widdis becomes the first female owner to win the Melbourne Cup when Patrobas wins
1916
Rain postpones the Cup by 5 days
1924
The VRC builds a new Members' grandstand
1925
The ABC first provides transmission of the Melbourne Cup
1930
Phar Lap won the Melbourne Cup as the shortest priced favourite in the history of the race at 11/8 on. He had to be hidden away at Geelong before the race after an attempt was made to shoot him and only emerged an hour before the race time of the Cup
1931
The first year the totalisator operated at the Melbourne Cup
1946
Photo-finish System is first introduced to Flemington
1954
Rising Fast wins not only the Melbourne Cup, but the Turnbull Stakes, Caulfield Stakes, Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate, Mackinnon Stakes and the Fisher Plate on the final day of the Flemington Carnival
1958
First Cup start from starting stalls
1961
Introduction of the Totalisator Agency Board
1962
Fashions on the Field first held at the Carnival
1965
Light Fingers wins the Melbourne Cup to provide Bart Cummings with his first win in the race
1972
Metric system is introduced and Cup is now run over 3200 metres, slightly shorter than the traditional two mile distance
1979
Harry White equals Bobbie Lewis' record of four Cup victories for a jockey
1985
First sponsored Melbourne Cup - first million dollar Cup
1987
Maree Lynden is the first female to ride in the Cup on Argonaut Style
1990
Kingston Rule runs the fastest time to win the Cup in 3 minutes 16.3 seconds
1999
Rogan Josh wins the Melbourne Cup to give Bart Cummings his record eleventh winner
2001
Sheila Laxon, with Ethereal, becomes the first woman to train a Melbourne Cup winner
2003
First Melbourne Cup Tour conducted around Australia. Biggest crowd recorded at Flemington - 122,736
2004
Makybe Diva becomes the fifth horse to win dual Melbourne Cups. Archer (1861-62), Peter Pan (1932 & 1934), Rain Lover (1968 & 1969) and Think Big (1974 & 1975) being the other four
2005
Makybe Diva becomes the first horse to win three Melbourne Cups (2003, 2004 & 2005). She breaks her own weight carrying record for a mare to victory by winning with 58kg. Glen Boss becomes the first jockey to win three Cups in a row.
2006
Delta Blues becomes the first Japanese horse to win the Melbourne Cup (G1).
2007
Efficient becomes the first horse since Phar Lap to win the Derby and Cup in successive years
2008
Bart Cummings wins his 12th Cup, with Viewed winning by a nose over Bauer. Jockey Blake Shinn wins his first Cup.
