Four horses among the remaining 42 vying for the 24 spots in the Melbourne Cup field have been the subjects of veterinary scrutiny. Defending Cup titleholder Cross Counter and 2018 runner-up Marmelo, along with Ispolini and Southern France have undergone tests. Race horse dies following 2020 Melbourne Cup. Duration: 01:27 3/11/2020. A pre-race favourite has died after breaking down at the Melbourne Cup. Melbourne Cup, 'The race that stops a nation' is Australia's most famous thoroughbred horse race. Conducted as a part of Melbourne's spring racing carnival, this 3200-metre race is the richest two-mile handicap in the world. Began in 1861, the story of Melbourne Cup is also the story of horse racing. Michelle Payne made all the headlines when she became the first female jockey to win a Melbourne Cup. But arguably the best woman jockey over a long period has been Linda Meech.
You'll probably be leaving the fancy heels and fascinators in the closet for this year's race like no other....
You'll probably be leaving the fancy heels and fascinators in the closet for this year's race like no other.
The scramble to secure a Melbourne Cup spot is heating up.Source:Getty Images
A total of 45 horses remain in the hunt for the 2020 Lexus Melbourne Cup after third acceptances were received on Monday.
As always it will be a mad scramble for the final few spots in the field of 24 for the $8 million handicap.
Wednesday's $400,000 Bendigo Cup will provide a chance for the winner to get a weight penalty to move up the entry list, while Saturday's Lexus Hotham Stakes (2500m) provides a ‘win and you're in' scenario.
Miami Bound escaped without a weight penalty following her dominant victory in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup.
Racing Victoria chief handicapper Greg Carpenter said while it was an impressive win, she had been well weighted in the Group Two.
'Miami Bound was a strong winner of the Moonee Valley Gold Cup, however she was well weighted under the set weights and penalties conditions of the Group Two race and she will face superior opposition at Flemington on Cup Day,' Carpenter said.
'At 5.5kg under weight-for-age benchmark in the Melbourne Cup, modern history says she already faces a significant challenge to win the race with 51kg.'
The Danny O'Brien-trained VRC Oaks winner didn't need a weight penalty to make the Cup field, having already been safely inside the top 24.
Key horses not to feature among the third acceptors include Metropolitan winner Mirage Dancer and Cox Plate runners Mugatoo (finished fourth at The Valley), Master Of Wine (eighth) and Buckhurst (10th).
Final acceptances will close at 4:30pm on Saturday with the barrier draw to be conducted from 5:30pm AEDT.
Sir Dragonet (right) races away to win the Cox Plate.Source:Getty Images
MELBOURNE CUP 2020 – ORDER OF ENTRY
Horse — Trainer — Weight
1: Verry Elleegant (NZ) — Chris Waller — 55.5kg
2: Sir Dragonet (IRE) — Ciaron Maher & David Eustace — 55.5kg
3: Oceanex (NZ) — Mick Price & Michael Kent — 51.5kg
4: Persan — Ciaron Maher & David Eustace — 51kg
5: Anthony Van Dyck (IRE) — Aidan O'Brien — 58.5kg
6: Vow and Declare — Danny O'Brien — 57kg
7: Avilius (GB) — James Cummings — 57kg
The Danny O'Brien-trained VRC Oaks winner didn't need a weight penalty to make the Cup field, having already been safely inside the top 24.
Key horses not to feature among the third acceptors include Metropolitan winner Mirage Dancer and Cox Plate runners Mugatoo (finished fourth at The Valley), Master Of Wine (eighth) and Buckhurst (10th).
Final acceptances will close at 4:30pm on Saturday with the barrier draw to be conducted from 5:30pm AEDT.
Sir Dragonet (right) races away to win the Cox Plate.Source:Getty Images
MELBOURNE CUP 2020 – ORDER OF ENTRY
Horse — Trainer — Weight
1: Verry Elleegant (NZ) — Chris Waller — 55.5kg
2: Sir Dragonet (IRE) — Ciaron Maher & David Eustace — 55.5kg
3: Oceanex (NZ) — Mick Price & Michael Kent — 51.5kg
4: Persan — Ciaron Maher & David Eustace — 51kg
5: Anthony Van Dyck (IRE) — Aidan O'Brien — 58.5kg
6: Vow and Declare — Danny O'Brien — 57kg
7: Avilius (GB) — James Cummings — 57kg
8: Russian Camelot (IRE) — Danny O'Brien — 53.5kg
9: Master of Reality (IRE) — Joseph O'Brien — 56kg
10: Twilight Payment (IRE) — Joseph O'Brien — 55.5kg
11: Tiger Moth (IRE) — Aidan O'Brien — 52.5kg
12: Mustajeer (GB) — Kris Lees — 55kg
13: Stratum Albion (GB) — Willie Mullins — 55kg
14: Prince of Arran (GB) — Charlie Fellowes — 54.5kg
15: Warning — Anthony & Sam Freedman — 53kg
16: Surprise Baby (NZ) — Paul Preusker — 54.5kg
17: Dashing Willoughby (GB) — Andrew Balding — 54.5kg
18: Finche (GB) — Chris Waller — 54.5kg
19: Etah James (NZ) — Ciaron Maher & David Eustace — 52.5kg
20: Miami Bound (NZ) — Danny O'Brien — 51kg
21: The Chosen One (NZ) — Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman — 53.5kg
22: Steel Prince (IRE) — Anthony & Sam Freedman — 53.5kg
23: King of Leogrance (FR) — Danny O'Brien — 53.5kg
24: True Self (IRE) — Willie Mullins — 52kg
25: Zebrowski (NZ) — Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes — 52kg
26: San Huberto (IRE) — Matt Cumani — 53.5kg
27: Nickajack Cave (IRE) — Peter G Moody — 53.5kg
28: Platinum Invador (NZ) — Peter G Moody — 53kg
29: Ashrun (FR) — Andreas Wohler — 53kg
30: Hush Writer (JPN) — Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott — 52.5kg
31: Le Don De Vie (GB) — Anthony & Sam Freedman — 52.5kg
32: Skyward (FR) — Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young — 52.5kg
33: Sound (GER) — Michael Moroney — 52kg
34: Azuro (FR) — Ciaron Maher & David Eustace — 52kg
35: Chapada — Michael Moroney — 52kg
36: Carif — Peter & Paul Snowden — 52kg
37: Haky (IRE) — Archie Alexander — 52kg
38: Gallic Chieftain (FR) — Archie Alexander — 51kg
39: Pondus (GB) — Joseph O'Brien — 51kg
40: Schabau (GER) — Robert Hickmott — 50.5kg
41: Attorney (FR) — Matthew Smith — 50kg
42: Lord Belvedere (GB) — Ciaron Maher & David Eustace — 50.5kg
43: Admire Robson (JPN) — Paul Preusker — 50kg
44: Future Score (IRE) — Matt Cumani — 50kg
45: Saracen Knight (IRE) — Danny O'Brien — 50kg
This article originally appeared on punters.com.au and was reproduced with permission.
The race that stops the nation reached a thrilling conclusion as punters around Australia yelled at TV screens, cheering their horses on....
How Many Horses Usually Run In The Melbourne Cup
The race that stops the nation reached a thrilling conclusion as punters around Australia yelled at TV screens, cheering their horses on.
Many feared the worst for Rostropovich last year.Source:Supplied
There was an eerie silence at Flemington today for the Melbourne Cup with crowds banished due to Covid restrictions.
How Many Horses Ran In The First Melbourne Cup Race
However, it was not just the pandemic that threatened to dampen the biggest day in the racing calendar.
Anti horseracing protests were expected again on Australia's biggest racing day, spurred by the deaths of six horses on Cup day since 2013.
That number has now hit seven after Anthony Van Dyck was euthanised after breaking down in the race.
It was loaded into an ambulance at the track.
The horse was one of the favourites heading into the race but went lame on the home straight.
There were no deaths in last year's race although all eyes were firmly fixed on a horse called Rostropovich that was trailing far behind the rest of the pack.
Many feared the worst for Rostropovich last year.Source:Supplied
It was later confirmed he suffered a stress fracture to his pelvis and many feared the worst after a grim run of deaths in recent years.
Thankfully, Rostropovich made a full recovery.
Still, animal welfare group PETA lashed out after the injury, saying the incident was indicative of the cruelty horses suffer in racing.
'Rostropovich is the latest in a long line of horses who have been seriously injured or killed during the disgrace that stops the nation — the Melbourne Cup,' PETA's statement read.
'The reality of the abusive racing industry is that horses are made to run to the detriment of their health. These 500-kilogram animals — supported on ankles as small as those of humans — are pushed past their limits, forced to race at breakneck speeds while being whipped.'
Rostropovich's co-trainer Tom Dabernig told Racing.com he wasn't aware of the impending backlash when his horse pulled up last year, with his first thoughts to provide immediate comfort to the horse.
What wonderful and caring staff we have in our industry - Rostropovich's strapper Alice took herself to visit him at Werribee in the busiest week of the year. He continues to make excellent progress. pic.twitter.com/GnU1Y9gwdl
— Lindsay Park Racing (@lindsayparkrace) November 6, 2019However, there was a big reaction on social media, with the hashtag #NupToTheCup quickly trending.
Two years ago the Cup was rocked by the death of Cliffsofmoher — who was euthanised in front of the grandstand crowd after the horse broke its shoulder.
Melbourne Horse Race
That followed these deaths in Melbourne Cup day races:
In 2013, Verema was euthanised after snapping a bone in her leg.
How Many Horses Race In The Melbourne Cup Winner
In 2014, Admire Rakti collapsed and died in his stall after a race and Araldo broke a leg and was euthanised.
How Many Horses Run In The Melbourne Cup 2019
In 2015, Red Cadeaux broke his left foreleg, was rushed to the vet for surgery and was euthanised some days later.
In 2016, Regal Monarch died after a dramatic mid-race fall.
Despite the deaths Melbourne Cup day remains one of Australia's biggest events.
Racing historian Dr Andrew Lemon told The Age, that after the Spanish Flu pandemic in 1919, the Melbourne Cup rebounded with a massive surge in popularity as thousands flocked to Flemington, with some estimates of around 110,000 spectators to watch Artilleryman win in 'record time'.
