The Caulfield Cup will now be worth $6 million in 2026 as the Melbourne Racing Club (MRC) marks the 150th running of the race.
The prizemoney increase, up $1 million from 2025, will see the winner collect $3.3 million, while trophies awarded to the winning owner, trainer and jockey will rise from $330,000 to $550,000.
For the first time, every starter in the Caulfield Cup will receive prizemoney, with horses finishing outside the top 10 earning $60,000. The move mirrors the Melbourne Cup model.
Racing Victoria chief executive Aaron Morrison welcomed the changes, saying the increased investment would help attract another high-quality field of local and international stayers.
MRC chief executive Tanya Fullarton said, “the Sportsbet Caulfield Cup is one of Australia’s great races and the Melbourne Racing Club has a responsibility to ensure it remains there.”
The club has also expanded the race’s international ballot-free qualification pathway, adding four European races: the Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot, Glorious Stakes at Goodwood, Prix de Reux at Deauville and Ballyroan Stakes at Leopardstown.
The cash injection follows the MRC previously stating it was ”very serious” about possibly making the race worth $20 million.
“As a club it’s our 150th year next year as VATC and MRC, so we’re looking at some really special things to go through,” prevoius chairman John Kanga said on SENTrack’s Giddy Up in 2025.
“If I was going to do a special promotion for the 150th year, we wouldn’t do a $10 million Cup, we’d probably do a $20 million Cup.”
“If you’re going to do it, you’re going to do it big.”
The 150th Caulfield Cup will be run at Caulfield on October 17.
