It’s the race that stops a nation … and is worth a cool A$6.2 million. So what goes into the race day preparation for the equine stars of the show?
Thoroughbred racehorses have unique anatomy and physiology that suits them well for racing at high speeds. There are very few 3,200m Thoroughbred races in Australia, and the horses that make it to the final 24 in the Melbourne Cup are truly elite equine athletes.
They have superior oxygen transport and an ideal mix of muscle fibre types, and are able to efficiently gallop at high speed. But winning the race also depends on how the horse behaves on the day, and of course, several ounces of good luck.
Built to win
While Phar Lap’s massive heart is an Australian legend (and is on display at the National Museum of Australia), horses racing in the Melbourne Cup will have big hearts with exceptionally high capacity for pumping blood to their muscles.
Horses racing for the Cup must also pass an intensive pre-race inspection by experienced veterinarians, who ensure that the welfare of the horse is not compromised
Horse psychology
Poor behaviour before or during the race can seriously impact a horse’s performance. Horses with over-excitability before the race, usually shown by agitation and excessive sweating, tend to perform less well than their calmer race mates.
I have even seen a horse so agitated before the Melbourne Cup that it had to be withdrawn because it refused to go to the starting gates.
Likewise, horses which do not relax during the running of the race pull hard against the jockey’s trying to restrain the horse. This costs energy, so the horse’s efficiency of galloping is decreased, resulting in poor performance.
Of course, there are other factors to take into account, such as the jockey and handicap.
But from a purely equine perspective, horses in the Melbourne Cup must win the genetic lottery, respond to training and racing programs overseveral years and be in just the right mental state on the day.
