It’s the race that stops the nation—but what time will Australia actually come to a halt for the Melbourne Cup this year? Keep reading for all the schedule details for the big day.
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What time is the Melbourne Cup?
In 2025 the Melbourne Cup gates will fly open at the same time they always do: 3pm AEDT.
Sydney/Melbourne | Brisbane | Adelaide | Perth | New Zealand |
3pm | 2pm | 2.30pm | 12pm | 5pm |
How many races are on Melbourne Cup day?
The race card for Cup day at Flemington includes 10 races, with the first jumping at 10.45am AEDT and the last scheduled for 5.15pm AEDT.
The Melbourne Cup itself starts at 3pm AEDT with a 65-minute break prior to the start.
What races are on Melbourne Cup day?
| Time | Race (Distance, Prizemoney) |
Race 1 | 10.45am | Darley Maribyrnong Plate (1000m, $240,000) |
Race 2 | 11.20am | Ma Services Grand Handicap (2000m, $150,000) |
Race 3 | 12.00pm | Tab Trophy (1800m, $200,000) |
Race 4 | 12.40pm | The Schweppervescene Plate (1000m, $150,000) |
Race 5 | 1.20pm | Australian Heritage Cup (2800m, $250,000) |
Race 6 | 1.55pm | Kirin Ichiban Plate (1800m,$200,000) |
Race 7 | 3.00pm | Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m, $10,000,000) |
Race 8 | 3.50pm | Lexus Amanda Elliott (1400m, $200,000) |
Race 9 | 4.35pm | Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1400m, $240,000) |
Race 10 | 5.15pm | Channel 9 Trophy (1400m, $150,000) |
What channel is the Melbourne Cup on?
This year’s Melbourne Cup will be broadcast live on free-to-air in Australia on Channel 9.
Sky Racing will also show the race, but it will be on delay and not live.
Will the Melbourne Cup be live streamed?
Yes. If you can’t get to a TV on Tuesday, the Melbourne Cup will be available to stream live on Channel 9’s streaming platform 9Now.
While the Melbourne Cup will not be shown on Foxtel or Kayo it will be streamed on the Racing.com website and app.