2025 Melbourne Cup Prize Money: How much winners takes from $10M

Melbourne Cup Prize Money 2025: What is the prize money and how much do the winner, jockey and trainer takes home.

With a total prize purse of $10 million, up from $8.56 million in 2024, the 2025 Lexus Melbourne Cup stands as the world's richest handicap horse race.

The Melbourne Cup — the race that stops the nation — is here again with a field of 24 local and international horses racing over 3200m for a whopping $10 million in prizemoney and trophies.

Half Yours has won the 2025 Melbourne Cup.

Jamie Melham is the second female jockey in history to win the race, 10 years after Michelle Payne did it on Prince Of Penzance.

Jamie Melham, formerly Kah, has made history as the second woman in history to win the Melbourne Cup.

Melham and Half Yours have also completed the Melbourne Cup-Caulfield Cup double; Melham is the first woman to do so.

Here are the things you need to know ahead of the 165th running of the great race.

Full prize money breakdown for the 2025 Melbourne Cup for All 24-horses

This year’s prize pool carries a total value of $10 million, up from $8 million last year.

The $4.5 million winner's prize money for the upcoming Melbourne Cup is split among the winning horse's owners, trainers, and jockey.

That pool consists of more than $9 million in cash and $910,000 worth of trophies — including the 18-carat solid gold Hardy Brothers trophy — valued at $250,000 — awarded to the winning owners.

The winning horse’s connection receive a $4.5 million first prize, with the rest of the payouts as follows:

Sure — here’s your list with prize money attached, keeping all horses in their original order and places:

1. Half Yours (14) — **$4,500,000**

2. Goodie Two Shoes (20) — **$1,100,000**

3. Middle Earth (7) — **$560,000**

4. River of Stars (21) — **$360,000**

5. Torranzino (23) — **$240,000**

6. Vauban (4) — **$160,000**

7. Al Riffa (19) — **$160,000**

8. Absurde (4) — **$160,000**

9. Changingoftheguard (13) — **$160,000**

10. Meydaan (8) — **$160,000**

11. Furthur (17) — **$160,000**

12. Arapaho (3) — **$160,000**

13. Flatten The Curve (10) — **$100,000**

14. Smokin' Romans (12) — **$100,000**

15. Royal Supremacy (22) — **$100,000**

16. Onesmoothoperator (16) — **$100,000**

17. Valiant King (24) — **$100,000**

18. More Felons (15) — **$100,000**

19. Presage Nocturne (6) — **$100,000**

20. Parchment Party (18) — **$100,000**

21. Athabascan (19) — **$100,000**

22. Land Legend (11) — **$100,000**

23. Chevalier Rose (5) — **$100,000**

24. Buckaroo (2) — **$100,000** 

 

2025 Melbourne Cup Prize Money for Owners

The winning owners collect the majority 85 per cent share of the prize, a massive $3.825 million.  This includes the main prize — the famed 18-carat solid gold Hardy Brothers trophy, valued at $250,000, which is awarded to the winning owners.

2025 Melbourne Cup Prize Money for Trainers

The trainers of the winning horse take home 10 per cent of the prize money, amounting to $450,000, plus a replica trophy.

2025 Melbourne Cup Prize Money for Jockeys

The champion jockey's prize is $225,000, representing 5 per cent of the payout. They also receive a replica miniature Melbourne Cup trophy valued at $25,000 and a riding fee of approximately $258.50 for race day.

2025 Melbourne Cup Prize Money for Strappers

The winning horse's strapper will be presented with the Tommy Woodcock Trophy — named after Phar Lap's attendant — valued at $15,000.

2025 Melbourne Cup Prize Money for Breeders

The breeder also receives a trophy valued at $10,000.

When is the Melbourne Cup, What time is the Melbourne Cup Starts?

As always, the first Tuesday in November — this year falling on the Tuesday, 4th, November. This year’s race will start at 3pm AEDT.

So that’s 3pm for Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra and Hobart. The race begins at 1.30pm if you’re in Darwin, 2pm in Brisbane and 2.30pm in Adelaide.

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