Melbourne Cup Trophy
In addition to the large amount of money as the prize for winning the annual Melbourne Cup horse race, the winner also receives a trophy. There has not always been a trophy, and the value and design of the prize has changed over time.
Melbourne Cup TrophyCurrently, a new trophy is created each year and becomes the property of the winning owner. The current design is the same as the one introduced in 1919, a 'loving cup' with three gold handles. The trophy awarded to the strapper of the winning horse in the Melbourne Cup is the Tommy Woodcock Trophy. The winning jockey is presented with a golden whip.
Below is a history of the Melbourne Cup Trophy. See a history of the Melbourne Cup prizemoney.
| Year | About the Trophy |
|---|---|
| 2013-2016 | the winners receive trophies valued at $175,000, $10,000, $10,000, $2,500 & $2,500 to owner, trainer, rider, strapper (Tommy Woodcock Trophy) and breeder respectively. |
| 2011 | The winner received trophies valued at $125,000. |
| 2008 | The value of the trophies was $150,000. The winning owner's trophy was valued at $125,000 (containing 1650 grams of 18-carat gold). |
| 2007 | The value of the trophies was $75,000. |
| 2005 | The breeder of the Cup winner was presented with a half-sized Melbourne Cup. |
| 2006 | valued at $100,000 |
| 2001 | valued at $80,000. The Cup was changed from 9ct to 18ct gold. A 2/3 height miniature of the Cup was presented to the trainer and jockey. |
| 2000 | valued at $32,500 |
| 1999 | valued at $32,500 |
| 1987 | valued at $32,000 |
| 1984 | valued at $23,000 |
| 1980 | The making of the Cup was taken over by Hardy Brothers Jewellers |
| 1978 | valued at $9000 |
| 1973 | The cup was valued at $3000. Smaller Melbourne Cup miniatures were presented to the winning trainer and jockey. |
| 1960 | valued at £750 |
| 1953 | valued at £550 |
| 1951 | valued at £300 |
| 1949 | valued at £300 |
| 1948 | valued at £300 |
| 1941 | valued at £200 |
| 1938 | the cup worth £200. |
| 1934 | The inscription on the cup reads: 'Melbourne Cup, 1934. Won by Mr RR Dangar's Peter Pan, age 5 yrs. Weight 8st 10lb'. Held in the collection of the National Museum of Australia. |
| 1933 | valued at £200 |
| 1929 | the cup worth £200 |
| 1928 | the cup worth £200. |
| 1925 | valued at £200. |
| 1924 | valued at £200 |
| 1922 | valued at £200 |
| 1921 | cup valued at £150 |
| 1919 | The first appearance of the Melbourne Cup design as seen today, designed by James Steeth. It is a 'loving cup' with three gold handles, manufactured by Drummonds Jewellers and handmade by James W. Steeth and Son. |
| 1918 | Two-handled gold cup trophy. |
| 1916 | the first gold cup - a three-legged, three-armed rose bowl. |
| 1915 | A large rose bowl that was made in Australia. |
| 1914 | The last Melbourne Cup trophy that was manufactured in England - a chalice centered on a long base which had a horse at each end facing out. |
| 1913 | Silver epergne. |
| 1909 - 1911 | Two-handled silver cups. |
| 1908 | The trophy was a three feet long plaque of an embossed silver galloping horse. This design has been much ridiculed as some people thought it resembled a greyhound. |
| 1900 | A tea and coffee service was presented. |
| 1899 | the trophy was in the form of silver galloping horse embossed on a 3-foot-long (0.91 m) plaque. |
| 1894 - 1894 | no trophy presented (due to poor economic times) |
| 1893 | Multi-piece trophy of silver tankard, punch bowl and beakers. |
| 1891 | the trophy changed to being a 15-inch-high (380 mm), 24-inch-long (610 mm) trophy showing a Victory figure offering an olive wreath to a jockey. |
| 1890 | A magnificent trophy, a silver ewer, salver and tazzas. The trophy is on display at the National Sports Museum at the MCG, Melbourne. |
| 1888 | This year a silver plated base sporting three silver horses was added, known as the "Centenary Cup". |
| 1887 | The trophy comprised a golden horseshoe mounted on a plush stand and valued at 100 sovereigns. |
| 1877 - 1886 | no trophy awarded |
| 1876 | In this year the first Australian-made trophy was presented. The shape was Etruscan with two handles. On one side was depicted a horse race with the grandstand and hill of Flemington in the background, and on the other side the words "Melbourne Cup, 1876" and the name of the winning horse. |
| 1868 - 1875 | no trophy awarded |
| 1867 | A silver trophy manufactured in England, made by Thomas Smily of London firm WR Smily & Company. The trophy shows 'Alexander Taming the Horse', the engraved name of the winning horse and the figure of a winged female. |
| 1865 | The first Melbourne Cup trophy was awarded. The trophy was an elaborate silver bowl on a stand (manufactured in England). The trophy for the Melbourne Cup would be silver until 1916. |
| 1862 | The prize again included a gold watch |
| 1861 | The prize also included a hand beaten gold watch. |
Sources: The information above is from various sources online and many not be 100% correct.
Related Pages
- Prize Money history for the Melbourne Cup
- How much did Archer win?
- Melbourne Cup Winners List and last place
- Melbourne Cup History
- More about the Melbourne Cup
- Melbourne Cup Trivia
Any comments, suggestions, or corrections? Please let us know.
Current Events