Editing Melbourne Cup (section)

==Qualifying and race conditions==
{{more citations needed|section|date=November 2018}}<!--many paragraphs without citations-->
[[File:PETER PAN lll VRC MELBOURNE CUP 1932 & 1934.JPG|thumb|250px|[[Peter Pan III|Peter Pan]], 1932 and 1934 winner]]
[[File:Delta 1950 VRC St Leger Flemington Racecourse Jockey Neville Sellwood Trainer Maurice McCarten.jpg|thumb|250px|right|[[Delta (horse)|Delta]], 1951 winner]]
[[File:Rising Fast (NZ).jpg|thumb|250px| [[Rising Fast]], 1954 winner]]
[[File:Russia 1946 VRC Melbourne Cup Flemington Racecourse Jockey Darby Munro Trainer Ted Hush.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Russia (horse)|Russia]], 1946 winner]]
[[File:Dalray 1952 VRC Melbourne Cup Jockey Bill Williamson Trainer Clarrie McCarthy.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Dalray]], 1952 winner]]
The race is a quality handicap for horses three years old and older, run over a distance of 3200 metres, on the first Tuesday in November at Flemington Racecourse. The minimum handicap weight is 50kg. There is no maximum weight, but the top allocated weight must not be less than 57kg. The weight allocated to each horse is declared by the VRC Handicapper in early September.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Craig |date=2023-05-13 |title=Melbourne Cup 2023 - Australia's Most Iconic Horse Racing Event |url=https://finderhub.com.au/melbourne-cup-2023/ |access-date=2023-05-21 |newspaper=Finderhub |language=en-US}}</ref>

The Melbourne Cup race is a [[Handicapping|handicap]] contest in which the weight of the [[jockey]] and riding gear is adjusted with ballast to a nominated figure. Older horses carry more weight than younger ones and weights are adjusted further according to the horse's previous results. The field is selected based on a range of factors, including each horse's age, weight, and previous racing performance.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Craig |date=2023-05-11 |title=Melbourne Cup- Australia's Biggest Horse Racing Event of the Year |url=https://finderhub.com.au/melbourne-cup/ |access-date=2023-05-12 |newspaper=Finderhub |language=en-US}}</ref>

Weights were theoretically calculated to give each horse an equal winning chance in the past, but in recent years the rules were adjusted to a "quality handicap" formula where superior horses are given less severe weight penalties than under pure handicap rules.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-08-16 |title=Melbourne Cup Qualification - Melbourne Cup Handicaps - Races.com.au |url=https://www.races.com.au/melbourne-cup/melbourne-cup-history/qualification/ |access-date=2023-02-19 |website=www.races.com.au |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Weight penalties===
After the declaration of weights for the Melbourne Cup, the winner of any handicap flat race of the advertised value of A$55,000 or over to the winner, or an internationally recognised Listed, Group, or Graded handicap flat race, shall carry such additional weight (if any), for each win, as the VRC Handicapper shall determine.

===Fees===
Entries for the Melbourne Cup usually close during the first week of August. The initial entry fee is $600 per horse. Around 300 to 400 horses are nominated each year, but the final field is limited to 24 starters. Following the allocation of weights, the owner of each horse must on the four occasions before the race in November declare the horse as an acceptor and pay a fee. First acceptance is $960, second acceptance is $1,450 and third acceptance is $2,420. The final acceptance fee, on the Saturday prior to the race, is $45,375. Should a horse be balloted out of the final field, the final declaration fee is refunded.

===Balloting conditions===
The race directors may exclude any horse from the race or exempt any horse from the ballot on the race, but in order to reduce the field to the safety limit of 24, horses are balloted out based on a number of factors which include prize money earned in the previous two years, wins or placings in certain lead-up races and allocated handicap weight.

The winners of the following races are exempt from any ballot:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/sport/horse-racing/difficult-to-deny-a-ballotfree-pass/2008/10/20/1224351156579.html |title=Difficult to deny a ballot free pass |work=The Age |date=2008-10-20 |access-date=2014-02-01 |archive-date=16 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216155209/http://www.theage.com.au/news/sport/horse-racing/difficult-to-deny-a-ballotfree-pass/2008/10/20/1224351156579.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>[http://www.racingandsport.com.au/breeding/rsNewsArt.asp?NID=122902 More Qualifying Races For Melbourne Cup] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202153534/http://www.racingandsport.com.au/breeding/rsNewsArt.asp?NID=122902 |date=2 February 2014 }}</ref>
*[[Lexus Stakes]] (formerly Saab Quality and registered as The Hotham Handicap)
*[[Cox Plate]]
*[[Caulfield Cup]]
*[[The Bart Cummings]] (from 2015)
*Andrew Ramsden Stakes (from 2019)
*The Ebor, York Festival (from 2019)
*The Roy Higgins Quality (from 2022)


The limitation of 24 starters is stated explicitly to be for safety reasons. However, in the past far larger numbers were allowed – the largest field ever raced was 39 runners in 1890.

===Quarantine===
International horses (except from New Zealand) entering Australia must undergo quarantine in an approved premises in their own country for a minimum period of 14 days before travelling to Australia. Premises must meet the Australian Government Standards.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.racingvictoria.net.au/p_Quarantine_Facility.aspx |title=Quarantine Facility |publisher=Racingvictoria.net.au |access-date=2014-02-01 |archive-date=13 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100413035706/http://www.racingvictoria.net.au/p_Quarantine_Facility.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> The Werribee International Horse Centre at Werribee Racecourse is the Victorian quarantine station for international horses competing in the [[Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival]]. The facility has stabling for up to 24 horses in five separate stable complexes and is located 32&nbsp;km from the Melbourne [[central business district|CBD]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.racingandsports.com.au/racing/rsNewsArt.asp?NID=176468 |title=Work begins on Werribee Quarantine Centre |publisher=Racingandsports.com.au |access-date=2014-02-01 |archive-date=24 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120524021454/http://www.racingandsports.com.au/racing/rsNewsArt.asp?NID=176468 |url-status=live }}</ref>