The Group 1 Melbourne Cup has once again cemented its legacy as a phenomenal success, both on the track and in terms of audience engagement. The highlight event generated an astonishing $1.6 million in betting turnover, marking the third-highest figure ever recorded in Victorian greyhound racing history—trailing only behind the 2020 and 2021 Melbourne Cup races.
Victorious in this year's race was the superstar greyhound, Explicit. While turnover figures shattered expectations, the vibrant crowd at Sandown Park added to the event's grandeur, flocking to witness an exceptional evening of greyhound racing.
The total turnover for Saturday night's Melbourne Cup meeting reached an impressive $8.9 million, a significant 29% increase compared to the $6.9 million wagered in 2023. This figure is only slightly behind the record-setting $9.5 million from the 2022 event. Melbourne Cup heat night also reported substantial growth, with a $7.3 million turnover, up 17.5% from the previous year's $6.2 million.
Stuart Laing, CEO of Greyhound Racing Victoria, expressed his enthusiasm about these milestones.
“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.”
Reflecting on the event, Laing shared that the atmosphere at the Sportsbet Melbourne Cup was one of the most electric in years, rivalling the remarkable turnout seen at The Meadows for Topgun night. He highlighted the exceptional talent showcased in the eight Cup heats and the fiercely competitive final field, which exemplified the sport's high standards.
Looking ahead, Laing stated that preparations are in full swing for the upcoming fourth edition of The Phoenix, aiming to elevate both the on-course experience and the free-to-air broadcast to unprecedented levels of excellence.