Weighing in

The Melbourne Cup is the premier handicap race in the world. A ‘handicap’ is the carrying weight allocated to each horse and is designed to give some measure of equality to the field, with better-performed horses carrying more weight.

The handicap incorporates the weight of the jockey, and the saddle and other riding equipment, with ballast used to make up any shortfall. For example, if a horse is given a handicap of 55 kg, and its jockey and equipment weighs 53 kg, then an additional 2 kg of ballast must be added to the load.

Months before the race, the chief handicapper, employed by Racing Victoria (the state’s principal racing authority), decides how much weight each horse must carry. On race day the Clerk of Scales ensures that mandated race weights are met.