The race, run over 3,200 metres (1.988 mi), was held on 3 November 2015 at Melbourne's Flemington Racecourse.
[3] The winner was Prince of Penzance, ridden by Michelle Payne, who became the first female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup.
[6] The deaths of two horses in Melbourne Cup 2014 race[7] has called into question the use of the whip and whether it results in unnecessary harm to the animal.
[5] Prince of Penzance pulled ahead of the front-runners only around 100m from the finish of the race,[10] surprising many, including Payne.
[11] † Indicates race favourite Three-time cup runner-up Red Cadeaux did not finish,[12] suffering a suspected fracture in the left fetlock,[13] a joint above the hoof similar to an ankle in humans.