Flemington Draws Largest Melbourne Cup Crowd Since 2016

Flemington Racecourse welcomed 97,112 attendees for Melbourne Cup Day, marking the largest crowd at the venue since 2016. The attendance figure exceeded the previous year's total of 84,373 by 12,739 and surpassed the 91,168 spectators who turned out in 2024. While the turnout fell significantly short of the 2003 record of 122,736—which prompted a 120,000 capacity cap in 2007—it provided a strong boost following the Victoria Racing Club's return to profitability in October.

Racegoers under sunny skies enjoyed a 12-minute pre-event musical set by English pop star Robbie Williams in the Mounting Yard. Described by the Victoria Racing Club as the largest production ever staged at the venue, Williams performed hits such as 'Feel', 'Rock DJ', 'Angels', and 'Let Me Entertain You' while standing on a podium close to the crowd. Commentators and racing figures praised the scale of the entertainment, with media personality Eddie McGuire calling it one of the greatest pre-match packages ever witnessed at a sporting event.

Away from the trackside spectacle, bookmaker Chris Lester navigated a high-stakes financial evening after taking heavy bets from Irish punters, including a $1 million wager from billionaire JP McManus on English galloper Hopewell Rock. Lester admitted to a sleepless night and extensive mathematical calculations to minimize his potential exposure of more than $6.4 million. The financial crisis was averted when Hopewell Rock struggled in the home straight and finished ninth, allowing Lester to escape major losses.

On the track, the $10.2 million Group 1 race delivered a historic result when the three-year-old colt Point Of Law secured victory on just his sixth career start. Previously owned by King Charles before being sold to a group of investors including former Australian rules football player Chris Judd and his wife Bec, the horse was ridden by Ethan Brown. Brown guided the colt through the middle of the pack and into clear space in the final 100 meters to finish ahead of stablemates Zahrann and Juja Kibo.

The victory made trainer Ciaron Maher the first in history to saddle the top three finishers in the Melbourne Cup, managing a record seven horses in the field of 23. Brown expressed overwhelming emotion after the race, noting the physical adversity he overcame following a severe riding fall in 2023 that sidelined him for six months and nearly cost him his life.

The event was not without operational challenges, as trainer Chris Waller was fined A$50,000 after race stewards scratched the horse Asterix earlier on Tuesday. Stewards discovered that a staff member had administered the anti-inflammatory medication penetrene on race day in error, constituting a serious breach of regulations.

Outside the gates of Flemington, demonstrators from the 'Nup to the Cup' movement gathered to protest against horse racing on its most prominent day, holding signs opposing animal cruelty and whip use. Meanwhile, polling indicates shifting public sentiment regarding the race, even as it continues to draw massive betting figures and remain a fixture of national culture.