1979 Melbourne Cup

{{Short description|Edition of the Melbourne Cup}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}}

{{Use Australian English|date=November 2023}}

{{Infobox horse race

| name = 1979 Melbourne Cup

| class =

| horse race = Melbourne Cup

| image =

| caption =

| location = Flemington Racecourse

| date = 5 Nov 1979

| distance = 3200m

| winning horse = Hyperno

| winning time = 3:21.8

| final odds = 7/1

| winning jockey = Harry White

| winning trainer = Bart Cummings

| winning owner = Sir Thomas & Lady North, Mr & Mrs George Herscu & Dr Ray Lake

| conditions = Fast

| surface = Turf

| attendance =

| previous = 1978

| next = 1980

}}

{{Quote box

|quote = Tackled by Red Nose, Slamander and on the outside is Hyperno, here's Cupacade with a powerful run from Warri Symbol. It's Red Nose and Salamander together at the 200, on the outside Hyperno and Salamander going stride for stride from Red Nose. Salamander a head in front, Hyperno's grabbing him, the go to the post together... Hyperno if anything's won it a nose to Salamander!

|source = Commentator Bill Collins describes the climax of the race

|width = 25%

|quoted = 1

|align = right

}}

The 1979 Melbourne Cup was a handicap horse race which took place on Tuesday, 5 November 1979 over 3200m, at Flemington Racecourse.

The race was won by the New Zealand bred gelding Hyperno, trained by Bart Cummings and ridden by Harry White. The runner up was Salamander trained by T J Hughes, and third place went to Red Nose trained by T Green.{{Cite web|url=https://www.races.com.au/melbourne-cup/melbourne-cup-history/past-winners/1971-to-1980-melbourne-cup/|title=Past Winners - 1971 to 1980 Melbourne Cup Winners - Races.com.au|date=22 September 2009|website=www.races.com.au|access-date=28 November 2023|archive-date=7 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231107002710/https://www.races.com.au/melbourne-cup/melbourne-cup-history/past-winners/1971-to-1980-melbourne-cup/|url-status=live}} The winning margin was a short half head with a further one and three quarter lengths to third place.

During the race Hyperno collided with the champion racehorse Dulcify who tragically had to be put down following the race.{{Cite web|url=https://www.progroupracing.com.au/horse-racing-articles/race-horses/hyperno|title=Hyperno: One Of Australia's Great Racing Thoroughbreds|date=24 August 2023|website=www.progroupracing.com.au|access-date=28 November 2023|archive-date=10 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231110041135/https://www.progroupracing.com.au/horse-racing-articles/race-horses/hyperno|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/racing/triumph-and-tragedy-in-equal-doses-featured-in-1979-edition-of-melbourne-cup-20141030-11ed0v.html|title=Triumph and tragedy in equal doses featured in 1979 edition of Melbourne Cup|first=Max|last=Presnell|date=30 October 2014|website=The Sydney Morning Herald}}