The Sportsbet Caulfield Cup will enter a new era in 2026, with prizemoney increasing to $6 million for the 150th running of one of Australia’s most historic races.
The investment, which coincides with the 150th running of the Sportsbet Caulfield Cup, reflects the MRC’s ambition to ensure one of Australia’s great races remains a major global staying contest for generations to come.
The Sportsbet Caulfield Cup has shaped Australian racing since its inception in 1879. MRC will mark that legacy in 2026 by strengthening the race’s prizemoney, broadening its international pathway and recognising the commitment of every runner that earns a place in the field.
The 2026 Sportsbet Caulfield Cup will pay prizemoney to every starter for the first time with horses outside the top 10 to receive $60,000. This aligns with the Melbourne Cup’s prizemoney structure, which also distributes one per cent of total prizemoney to starters outside the top 12.
The revised prizemoney distribution will see the winner receive $3.3 million with the overall prizemoney pool increasing by $1 million from 2025. Trophies for the winning jockey, trainer and owner will also increase from $330,000 to $550,000.
“The Sportsbet Caulfield Cup is one of Australia’s great races and the Melbourne Racing Club has a responsibility to ensure it remains there,” Melbourne Racing Club Chief Executive Officer Tanya Fullarton said.
“The 150th running gives us the right moment to elevate the race, ensuring it remains a compelling target for the best available staying horses.
“The Sportsbet Caulfield Cup will remain the world’s richest 2400-metre handicap race supported by the increased prizemoney pool, which in distributing money to every starter, recognises the considerable commitment required to prepare a horse for a race of this scale.”
MRC has also refreshed the international ballot-free pathway for the 2026 Sportsbet Caulfield Cup with four new races, the first of those later today with the listed Wolferton Stakes (2004m) at Royal Ascot.
The Glorious Stakes (2412m) at Goodwood, Prix de Reux (2500m) at Deauville and Ballyroan Stakes (2414m) at Leopardstown – all Group 3 races – have also been added as overseas Caulfield Cup qualifiers.
“These races staged at premium European venues have been selected to provide a more current and practical pathway for British, Irish and French-trained horses with a genuine Caulfield Cup profile,” Fullarton said.
“The Sportsbet Caulfield Cup has an extraordinary past. These changes are about making sure it has an equally strong future.”
The enhancements have been welcomed by Racing Victoria.
“The Sportsbet Caulfield Cup is an integral part of the rich heritage of Victorian, and indeed, Australian racing, and this year marks a momentous occasion with the 150th edition of this great handicap race,” Racing Victoria Chief Executive Officer Aaron Morrison said.
“The MRC’s additional prizemoney investment celebrates that incredible milestone and will help to ensure another outstanding field of stayers from across Australia and abroad will target the race.
“The change to the prizemoney structure also aligns the Sportsbet Caulfield Cup and Lexus Melbourne Cup in recognising the additional time, effort and money that goes into training and qualifying horses for our greatest staying races.”
The 2026 Sportsbet Caulfield Cup will be held at Caulfield racecourse on Saturday 17 October.
MRC Release
