Short answer: The Melbourne Cup field is limited to 24 horses, so typically there are up to 24 starters in the race. In recent years the field has been capped at 24, though historically it has varied widely (with as few as 7 runners in the 1860s and a record 39 in 1890).
Details and context
- Field size: The modern Melbourne Cup restricts participation to a maximum of 24 starters. This is the standard for contemporary editions and is designed to ensure a manageable field and race dynamic.
- Historical variability: In its long history, the Cup has seen fields much smaller or larger than 24. The smallest field occurred in the early years (seven runners in 1863), while the largest was 39 runners in 1890. These extremes illustrate how field sizes have fluctuated since the race’s inception.
- Current practice and entries: Each year, nominations and the Order of Entry determine which horses make the final 24. The number of entries can exceed 24, but only 24 will start if the field is full. International entries are common, but they still compete within the same 24-horse cap.
If you’d like, I can pull the exact field size for a specific Melbourne Cup year (e.g., 2023, 2024, or 2025) and list the 24 starters for that edition.
