Full prize money breakdown for the 2023 Melbourne Cup
The 2023 Melbourne Cup is worth a total of $8 million and is the world's richest handicap horse race.
The race is now worth a total of $8 million, and the famous 18ct solid gold Hardy Brothers trophy is worth an extra $250,000. The total was increased from $7.3 million in 2019.
The winner of the Cup gets $4.4m of that pool, second place $1.1 million, third $550,000, fourth $350,000, fifth $230,000, and sixth to 12th $160,000.
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Mark Zahra, who rode Gold Trip to victory, celebrates with the trophy after winning the 2022 Melbourne Cup. Daniel Pockett via Getty Images
The champion jockey receives five per cent of the prize money and a miniature Melbourne Cup trophy worth $10,000.
Trainers receive 10 per cent of the prize money and a separate replica trophy, and the connections collect the rest (85 per cent).
Every runner in the 2023 Melbourne Cup field analysed, why they can - and can't - win
Every runner in the 2023 Melbourne Cup field analysed, why they can - and can't - win
The horse's strapper also gets a replica Melbourne Cup trophy valued at $5000.
Each year two identical trophies are crafted in case there is a dead heat in the Cup, but that has never happened.
The first Melbourne Cup in 1861 was worth 750 pounds to the winner, plus a gold watch.
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