Melbourne Cup Returns Record Level Turnover

THE Group 1 Melbourne Cup has proven to be a raging success both on and off the track with the showpiece race generating a staggering $1.6 million in turnover. 

Won by superstar Explicit, the lofty wagering mark is the third highest turnover for a race in the history of Victorian greyhound racing, eclipsed only by the 2020 and 2021 editions of the Melbourne Cup.

While the turnover for the meeting reached record levels, officials were equally delighted with the bumper on-course crowd which packed into Sandown Park for the champagne card of racing.

Total turnover on Saturday night's Melbourne Cup card reached $8.9m, up nearly 29 per cent on the $6.9 million wagered in 2023, and only 6.5 per cent shy of the Cup night record of $9.5m set in 2022. 

Melbourne Cup heat night at Sandown Park also produced solid numbers, with turnover of $7.3 million for the meeting, up 17.5 per cent on the $6.2 million wagered in 2023. 

“To record the third highest turnover race of all time and the sixth highest Victorian turnover meeting of all time is a positive sign that interest and engagement in Victorian greyhound racing is high following a particularly soft 2023 festival,” GRV's chief executive officer Stuart Laing said. 

“The positive mainstream media attention greyhound racing has been receiving, along with the ability to showcase the best of Victorian greyhound racing live on Racing.com, is part of the reason why engagement with the sport continues to grow. 

“The crowd and atmosphere at Saturday night's Sportsbet Melbourne Cup was one of the best at Cup night in years and follows a particularly good attendance at The Meadows for Topgun night. 

“On the track, we've had some star-studded fields, underlined by the quality of the eight Cup heats and the depth and evenness of the Cup final field. 

“All our attention now goes towards making sure the fourth edition of The Phoenix, both on course and as part of the free-to-air broadcast, is the best edition yet."