What time does the 2021 Melbourne Cup start?

The Melbourne Cup gets underway at Flemington Racecourse on Tuesday, and 10,000 spectators will witness the race that stops a nations.

Racegoers arrive during the 2021 Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington Racecourse. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

The Melbourne Cup gets underway at Flemington Racecourse this afternoon, with the race that stops a nation set to jump at 3pm local time.

After last year’s Melbourne Cup took place in front of empty stands, the Victorian Government has permitted 10,000 spectators to witness the main event.

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Australian thoroughbred Incentivise has been tipped as the favourite to win this year’s Melbourne Cup, having already won the 2021 Caulfield Cup last month.

Follow our live coverage of the Melbourne Cup here.

What time is the race?

Melbourne — 3pm

Sydney — 3pm

Hobart — 3pm

ACT — 3pm

Perth — 12pm

Darwin — 1.30pm

Brisbane — 2pm

Adelaide — 2.30pm

Race day schedule

10.45am — Darley Maribyrnong Plate (1000m)

11.20am — Schweppervescence Plate (1000m)

12pm — TAB Trophy (1800m)

12.40pm — MSS Security Sprint (1200m)

1.20pm — Subzero Handicap (1400m)

1.50pm — Grinders Coffee Roasters Trophy (1400m)

2.20pm — Furphy Plate (1800m)

3pm — Melbourne Cup (3200m)

4.40pm — The Macca’s Run (2800m)

5.15pm — The Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1400m)

* All times AEDT

The Makybe Diva statue at Flemington Racecourse. Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

How to watch and listen

Channel 10 will once again be the free-to-air broadcaster for the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

Foxtel’s Sky Racing will provide coverage of Melbourne Cup day, but the race that stops a nation will be shown on delay by a handful of minutes.

You will also be able to watch the race live on streaming platforms TenPlay, Racing.com and Kayo.

Meanwhile, several radio stations will be providing live commentary of the race:

— RSN Racing & Sport on 927 AM

— 3AW in Melbourne on 693 AM

— Triple M: Sydney 104.9 FM, Brisbane 104.5 FM, Adelaide 104.7 FM and Melbourne 105.1 FM

— ABC Grandstand

— SEN on 1116 AM

Melbourne Cup 2021 field (horse, weight, trainer, jockey)

1 – TWILIGHT PAYMENT 58kg, Joseph O’Brien, Jye McNeil

Barrier: 2

2 – INCENTIVISE 57kg, Peter G Moody, Brett Prebble

Barrier: 16

3 – SPANISH MISSION 57kg, Andrew Balding, Craig Williams

Barrier: 14

4 – VERRY ELLEEGANT 57kg, Chris Waller, James McDonald

Barrier: 19

5 – EXPLOSIVE JACK 54kg, Ciaron Maher & David Eustace, John Allen

Barrier: 4

6 – THE CHOSEN ONE 54kg, Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman, Damian Lane

Barrier: 5

7 – DELPHI 53.5kg, Anthony & Sam Freedman, Damien Oliver

Barrier: 3

8 – OCEAN BILLY 53.5kg, Chris Waller, Damien Thornton

Barrier: 13

9 – SELINO 53.5kg, Chris Waller, Ron Stewart

Barrier: 24

10 – JOHNNY GET ANGRY 53kg, Denis Pagan, Lachlan King

Barrier: 22

11 – KNIGHTS ORDER 53kg, Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott, Daniel Stackhouse

Barrier: 9

12 – PERSAN 53kg, Ciaron Maher & David Eustace, Luke Currie

Barrier: 11

13 – CARIF 52.5kg, Peter & Paul Snowden, Blaike McDougall

Barrier: 8

14 – MASTER OF WINE 52.5kg, Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes, Fred Kersley

Barrier: 6

15 – PONDUS 52.5kg, Robert Hickmott, Rachel King

Barrier: 1

16 – GRAND PROMENADE 52kg, Ciaron Maher & David Eustace, Kerrin McEvoy

Barrier: 21

17 – MIAMI BOUND 52kg, Danny O’Brien, Patrick Moloney

Barrier: 17

18 – PORT GUILLAUME 52kg, Ben & JD Hayes, Harry Coffey

Barrier: 23

19 – SHE’S IDEEL 52kg, Bjorn Baker, Craig Newitt

Barrier: 20

20 – FUTURE SCORE: SCRATCHED

21 – TRALEE ROSE 51kg, Symon Wilde, Dean Holland

Barrier: 12

22 – FLOATING ARTIST 50kg, Ciaron Maher & David Eustace, Teo Nugent

Barrier: 10

23 – GREAT HOUSE 50kg, Chris Waller, Teo Nugent, Michael Dee

Barrier: 7

24 – SIR LUCAN 50kg, Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott, Glen Boss

Barrier: 18

Originally published as What time does the 2021 Melbourne Cup start?