2024 Melbourne Cup

{{Infobox horse race

|name = 2024 Melbourne Cup

|horse race = Melbourne Cup

|image = Flemington-race-course-180-degree.jpg

|caption = Flemington Racecourse, location of the race

|location = Flemington Racecourse
Melbourne, Australia

|date = 5 November 2024

|distance = 3,200 metres

|winning horse = Knight's Choice

|winning time =

|starting price = $81

|winning jockey = Robbie Dolan

|winning trainer = John Symons & Sheila Laxon

|winning owner =

|surface = Grass

|attendance = 91,168

|conditions =

|previous = 2023

|next = 2025}}

{{Quote box

|quote = Land Legend goes to the front with Okita Sushi on the outside, then Zardozi, back behind those Circle of Fire, Fancy Man and from a long way back Buckaroo. It's Okita Sushi, Zardozi a length away on the inside wearing it down. Okita Sushi grabbed by Zardozi, Knight's Choice is coming through at any old price and Warp Speed as well. Zardozi grabbed by Knight's Choice and Warp Speed coming at it. Knight's Choice, Warp Speed they hit the line, it's a photo finish! Knight's Choice I reckon's won from Warp Speed in a photo, what a magnificent finish to the Cup!

|source = Commentator Matt Hill describes the climax of the race {{cite web |title=Knight's Choice – Lexus Melbourne Cup – Lexus Melbourne Cup Day, Race 7 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiuFOD5mVig |website=YouTube |accessdate=5 November 2024}}

|width = 25%

|quoted = 1

|align = right

}}

The 2024 Melbourne Cup, known commercially as the 2024 Lexus Melbourne Cup, was the 164th running of the Melbourne Cup, an Australian thoroughbred horse race. The race, run over {{convert|3200|m|mi|3}}, was held on 5 November 2024 at Melbourne's Flemington Racecourse.{{Cite web|url=https://www.racenet.com.au/melbourne-cup|title=Melbourne Cup 2024 | Latest news, Updates, Tips & Results|date=December 1, 2023|website=racenet.com.au}}

The final field for the race was declared on 2 November 2024.[https://www.racenet.com.au/news/live-the-field-and-barrier-draw-for-the-2024-melbourne-cup-20241102 2024 Melbourne Cup field and barrier draw] – racenet.com.au. Retrieved 2 November 2024. The total prize money for the race was A$8.56 million, a $150,000 increase from 2023.{{Cite web |date=2 November 2024 |title=2024 Melbourne Cup Guide: What Time, Which Race, Who Will Win? - races.com.au |url=https://www.races.com.au/2024/10/31/2024-melbourne-cup-guide-what-time-which-race-who-will-win/|access-date=2 November 2024|website=www.races.com.au |language=en-US}} It was the first Melbourne Cup to be broadcast by Nine Network after Network 10, who had broadcast the race since 2019, dropped out of the bidding for the rights to the race in June 2023. Nine Network will have broadcast rights from 2024 until 2029.[https://web.archive.org/web/20230628182822/https://mumbrella.com.au/ten-withdraws-from-melbourne-cup-broadcast-bid-791853 Ten withdraws Melbourne Cup broadcast bid] Mumbrella 22 June 2023[https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/jun/23/ten-network-drops-bid-to-secure-melbourne-cup-rights-over-tabcorp-deal Ten Network drops bid to secure Melbourne Cup rights over Tabcorp deal] The Guardian 22 June 2023{{cite web|first=Simon|last=Brunsdon|url= https://www.nine.com.au/sport/horse-racing/news-2024-nine-vrc-melbourne-cup-broadcast-rights-deal-20240220-p5j9mk.html |title= Nine announces landmark broadcast rights deal with VRC for Melbourne Cup carnival |date=20 February 2024|work=Wide World of Sports|accessdate=20 February 2024}}{{cite web|first=Robert|last=McKnight|url= https://tvblackbox.com.au/page/2024/02/20/nine-nabs-the-melbourne-cup-as-part-of-a-complicated-deal/ |title= Nine nabs the MELBOURNE CUP as part of a complicated deal |date=20 February 2024|work=TV Blackbox|accessdate=20 February 2024}}{{cite web|first=David|last=Knox|url= https://tvtonight.com.au/2024/02/nine-announces-melbourne-cup-deal-to-2029.html |title= Nine announces Melbourne Cup deal to 2029 |date=20 February 2024|work=TV Tonight|accessdate=20 February 2024}}

The Italian jockey Frankie Dettori decided to not retire from horse racing in order to compete in the 2024 Cup. He was ruled out of the 2023 Cup after being suspended for a whip breach. {{Cite web |title=Horse racing-Dettori eyes another Melbourne Cup in 2024 after retirement U-turn |website=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/sports/horse-racing-dettori-eyes-another-melbourne-cup-2024-after-retirement-u-turn-2023-11-07/ |access-date=2024-02-19}}

The race was won by Knight's Choice, ridden by Robbie Dolan. This was his first time racing in the Cup.{{cite web |last=O’loughlin |first=Liam |date=5 November 2024 |title='Pinch me, I'm dreaming': $81 roughie Knight's Choice salutes in thrilling Melbourne Cup photo finish|url=https://www.nine.com.au/sport/horse-racing/melbourne-cup-results-2024-winner-knights-choice-robbie-dolan-john-symons-sheila-laxon-20241105-p5ko44.html|accessdate=6 November 2024 |work=Nine news}}