Melbourne Cup horse deaths have never been more closely monitored, nor more heavily criticised — though before the 2025 event, it has been five years since a runner died in the Race That Stops a Nation.

Nonetheless, the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses (CPR) reports that at least 174 racehorses died in Australia from racing or training injuries in the past 12 months; the highest number in the 10 years that animal rights activists have tracked data.

Six horses have died in the Melbourne Cup, and seven in total on Cup Day, since 2013. It is the sport’s biggest stage and as such, has put the greatest spotlight on casualties. Here is the list of fatalities.

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2013: VEREMA (France)

Verema was a five-year-old French mare, owned by the Aga Khan. She suffered a broken leg during the 2013 Melbourne Cup and was put down on track.

Verema (green silks) in the 2013 Melbourne Cup.Source: Supplied

2014: ADMIRE RAKTI (Japan)

Admire Rakti was a seven-year-old Japanese stallion that was a pre-race favourite in the 2014 Melbourne Cup. He suffered a massive heart attack back in the stalls after finishing last in the race.

Admire Rakti in the 2014 Melbourne Cup.Source: News Corp Australia

2014: ARALDO (Great Britain)

Araldo was a seven-year-old British stallion that finished seventh in the 2014 Melbourne Cup. However, he was spooked on his way back to mounting yard and broke his leg on a fence, and was euthanised hours later.

Araldo is tangled in the fence after the 2014 Melbourne Cup.Source: AAP

2015: RED CADEAUX (Great Britain)

Red Cadeaux was a 10-year-old British gelding who broke down during the 2015 Melbourne Cup, only to walk free of the dreaded green screens on track. Yet it had suffered a leg fracture and was euthanised about three weeks later.

Green sheeting is put up around Red Cadeaux after the 2015 Melbourne Cup.Source: AAP

2017: REGAL MONARCH (Great Britain) – died in Race 4 on Cup Day

Regal Monarch was a five-year-old British bay gelding which broke down on the home turn and threw jockey Joao Moreira on Melbourne Cup day in 2017. It was taken from Flemington and later euthanised.

Regal Monarch after a fall during Race 4 of Melbourne Cup Day 2017.Source: AAP

2018: THE CLIFFSOFMOHER (Ireland)

The Cliffsofmoher was a five-year-old Irish stallion that failed to finish the 2018 Melbourne Cup after an incident first time past the finishing post. He suffered a fractured shoulder and was euthanised on track.

The Cliffsofmoher trails the field after being hurt in the 2018 Melbourne Cup.Source: News Regional Media

2020: ANTHONY VAN DYCK (Ireland)

Anthony Van Dyck was a five-year-old Irish stallion that was one of the pre-race favourites for the 2020 Melbourne Cup. He suffered a leg fracture entering the home straight at Flemington, was taken from the track and later euthanised.

Hugh Bowman rides Anthony Van Dyck during the start of the 2020 Melbourne Cup.Source: Getty Images

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2025 MELBOURNE CUP FIELD

1. AL RIFFA (19) – Joseph O’Brien – Mark Zahra – 59kg

2. BUCKAROO (12) – Chris Waller – Craig Williams – 57kg

3. ARAPAHO (15) – Bjorn Baker – Rachel King – 56.5kg

4. VAUBAN (2) – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott – Blake Shinn – 56.5kg

5. CHEVALIER ROSE (5) – Hisashi Shimizu – Damian Lane – 55.5kg

6. PRESAGE NOCTURNE (9) – Alessandro Botti – Stephane Pasquier – 55.5kg

7. MIDDLE EARTH (13) – Ciaron Maher – Ethan Brown – 54.5kg

8. MEYDAAN (22) – Simon & Ed Crisford – James McDonald – 54kg

9. ABSURDE (4) – Willie Mullins – Kerrin McEvoy – 53.5kg

10. FLATTEN THE CURVE (17) – Henk Grewe – Thore-Hammer Hansen – 53kg

11. LAND LEGEND (16) – Chris Waller – Joao Moreira – 53.5kg

12. SMOKIN’ ROMANS (11) – Ciaron Maher – Ben Melham – 53.5kg

13. CHANGINGOFTHEGUARD – Kris Lees – Tim Clark – 53kg

14. HALF YOURS (8) – Tony & Calvin McEvoy – Jamie Melham – 53kg

15. MORE FELONS (23) – Chris Waller – Tommy Berry – 53kg

16. ONESMOOTHOPERATOR (6) – Brian Ellison – Harry Coffey – 53kg

17. FURTHUR (7) – Andrew Balding – Michael Dee – 52kg

18. PARCHMENT PARTY (3) – William Mott – John Velazquez – 52kg

19. ATHABASCAN (1) John O’Shea & Tom Charlton – Declan Bates – 51.5kg

20. GOODIE TWO SHOES (20) – Joseph O’Brien – Wayne Lordan – 51.5kg

21. RIVER OF STARS (14)- Chris Waller – Beau Mertens – 51.5kg

22. ROYAL SUPREMACY (21) – Ciaron Maher – Robbie Dolan – 51kg

23. TORRANZINO (18) – Paul Preusker – Celine Gaudray – 51kg

24. VALIANT KING (10) – Chris Waller – Jye McNeil – 51kg