Looking for this year’s The Bart Cummings betting markets, field and tips? The experts at Neds have put together everything you need to know before this year’s race.
2026 The Bart Cummings Odds
The Bart Cummings odds 2026 are generating plenty of interest as punters look to uncover the staying stars capable of earning a coveted ballot exemption into the Melbourne Cup. Early The Bart Cummings betting 2026 markets are being shaped by imported stayers, proven distance performers, and progressive spring campaigners emerging through the key lead-up races. As the staying form begins to unfold throughout the carnival, expect significant movement in the futures market as bettors assess which runners possess the stamina, fitness, and class to excel over Flemington’s testing 2500m journey. With a strong history of producing genuine Melbourne Cup contenders, finding value in the The Bart Cummings odds 2026 could prove a winning strategy for savvy spring racing punters.
The latest The Bart Cummings 2026 odds followed by the official race finishing order after the event will be available below.
The Bart Cummings 2026 Tips
Our insider The Bart Cummings 2026 tips will be available here the week of the race and a full The Bart Cummings betting preview published on the Neds Blog.
The Bart Cummings race is an important Group 3 event run and won at Flemington Racecourse in early October on Turnbull Stakes Day. The handicap showdown is contested over 2500m and currently offers $350,000 in total prize money.
First contested in 2000 and won by that year’s Melbourne Cup champion Brew, The Bart Cummings also now offers the winner a ballot exemption into the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) held back at Flemington over the two miles on the first Tuesday of November.
Almandin (2016) was the last horse to complete The Bart Cummings – Melbourne Cup race double.
More recently The Bart Cummings winners Surprise Baby (2019) and Persan (2020) both went on to run fifth in the Melbourne Cup results of their respective years.
The Bart Cummings 2026 – Fast Facts
- Race Day: Saturday, October 3, 2026
- Track Location: Flemington Racecourse
- Track Surface: Turf
- Track Direction: Left-handed
- Distance: 2500m
- Weight Class: Handicap
- Qualification: Open
- Type: Thoroughbred
- Grade: Group 3
- Operator: Victorian Racing Club
- Prize Purse: $350,000
- Inaugural Race: 2000
- 2026 The Bart Cummings Winner: TBD
The Bart Cummings 2026 Results
The official 2026 The Bart Cummings results will be available below once the race takes place on Saturday, October 3, 2026.
The Bart Cummings Betting 2026
There are many different ways to bet on The Bart Cummings, and we have included some of the most popular options below:
| Bet Type | How to Place This Type of Bet on This Year’s The Bart Cummings |
|---|---|
| Win Bet | Place your bet on the horse you think will take first place in this year’s The Bart Cummings. |
| Place Bet | Place your bet on the horse you think will place in the top three finishers at this year’s The Bart Cummings. Pays less than a win bet but offers safer odds. |
| Each-Way Bet | If your runner finishes 1st in The Bart Cummings, you will collect both the Win and the Place dividend. If your horse finishes 2nd or 3rd you will collect the Place dividend. |
| Quinella Bet | You must select the runners that finish 1st and 2nd in any order, within The Bart Cummings, in order to win the Quinella. |
| Exacta Bet | You must select the runners that finish 1st and 2nd in the correct order, within The Bart Cummings to win the Exacta. |
| Trifecta Bet | You must select runners to finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the correct order, within The Bart Cummings to win the Trifecta. |
| First Four | You must select runners that finish 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th in the correct order, within The Bart Cummings to win the First 4. |
| Quadrella Bet (Quaddie) | You must select the winners of four nominated races to win the Quaddie. This means you would have to select three other races apart from The Bart Cummings, in order to be eligible to place a Quaddie. |
How to Bet on The Bart Cummings in 2026
- Log in at neds
- Make a deposit, using your credit card, PayPal or other safe electronic method
- Make sure to check out form guide, once it’s released
- Decide what kind of bet you’re going to place (Win, Place, Each-Way, Trifecta + more betting options, please read our section on The Bart Cummings Betting above).
- Select the horse(s) for the race.
Which Horse Will Win The Bart Cummings in 2026?
Deciding on which horse will win The Bart Cummings in 2026 comes down to a number of key form facts and statistics on the race including:
- Staying Ability – Looking for horses with a proven record over around a mile and a half is key to selecting The Bart Cummings winner.
- Naturalism Lead-Up – The Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) serves as a nice lead-up into The Bart Cummings field. Lunar Flare (6th in 2022) and Just Fine (10th in 2024) were the last The Bart Cummings winners to come via the Naturalism Stakes.
The Bart Cummings 2026 Favourites
Favourites in 2026 The Bart Cummings betting will be updated here the week of the race.
Surprise Baby ($2.50 in 2019) was the last The Bart Cummings favourite to win.
There was a blowout result in 2025 with Valiant King saluting at The Bart Cummings odds of $61.
The Bart Cummings 2026 Field
The official The Bart Cummings 2026 field of final acceptors will be announced on the Wednesday of race week and published in full below.
The Bart Cummings 2026 Race Day
The Bart Cummings 2026 takes place at Flemington Racecourse on Saturday, October 3, 2026, as part of the Turnbull Stakes Day program. The other key Group status races on the card that day are the:
- Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m),
- Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1200m),
- Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m),
- Group 2 Rose Of Kingston Stakes (1400m) – formerly the Blazer Stakes, and the
- Group 2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m).
The Bart Cummings 2026 Nominations
2026 The Bart Cummings nominations close at 12 PM on the Monday of race week.
The Bart Cummings 2026 Weights
The Bart Cummings is a handicap event. Final 2026 The Bart Cummings weights will be declared by 4 PM on the Monday of race week and will be published in our above The Bart Cummings Field section.
2026 The Bart Cummings Topweight:
- TBC
The Bart Cummings 2026 Acceptances
2026 The Bart Cummings final acceptances must be declared before 9:30 AM on the Wednesday of race week and will be published in our above The Bart Cummings Field section.
The Bart Cummings 2026 Jockeys
Riders must be declared before 1 PM on the Wednesday of race week and the official 2026 The Bart Cummings jockeys will be published in our above The Bart Cummings Field section.
The Bart Cummings 2026 Barrier Draw
The 2026 The Bart Cummings barrier draw will take place a few days before the race and will be published in our above The Bart Cummings Field section.
The Bart Cummings 2026 Scratchings
2026 The Bart Cummings scratchings close at 7:30 AM on Saturday, October 3, 2026.
The Bart Cummings Prize Money 2026
The 2026 The Bart Cummings prize money is set at a total of $350,000 with prize money paid from first to eighth.
| Place | Prize Money |
|---|---|
| 1st | $210,000 |
| 2nd | $63,000 |
| 3rd | $31,500 |
| 4th | $15,750 |
| 5th | $8,750 |
| 6th | $7,000 |
| 7th | $7,000 |
| 8th | $7,000 |
The Bart Cummings Race Number 2026
The 2026 The Bart Cummings race number is TBC for Saturday, October 3, 2026. There will be a total of ten races that day at Flemington Racecourse.
The Bart Cummings 2026 Form Guide
The final form guide will be available the week of the race. You can check below for a link to our full 2026 The Bart Cummings Form Guide following final acceptances.
The Bart Cummings Live 2026
You can watch or listen to the 2026 The Bart Cummings live, across the following mediums.
Free-to-air television: Seven Network
Pay television: Sky Racing 1 (channel 526 on Foxtel)
Radio: Radio Sport National
Stream Online: 7Live
Streaming: Racing.com
Mobile: Neds App
The Bart Cummings Winners (Past Results)
See below for a list of past The Bart Cummings winners going back to 2006.
| Year | Winner | Second | Third |
| 2026 | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 2025 | Valiant King | Torranzino | Gilded Water |
| 2024 | Just Fine | Point King | Amade |
| 2023 | Future History | First Immortal | Serpentine |
| 2022 | Lunar Flare | Francesco Guarid | Interpretation |
| 2021 | Grand Promenade | Tralee Rose | Master Of Wine |
| 2020 | Persan | Sound | Steel Prince |
| 2019 | Surprise Baby | Supernova | Wolfe |
| 2018 | Avilius | Jaameh | Yogi |
| 2017 | Amelie’s Star | Granddukeoftuscany | Kellstorm |
| 2016 | Almandin | Zanteca | Excess Knowledge |
| 2015 | Let’s Make Adeal | Our Ivanhowe | Hawkspur |
| 2014 | Who Shot Thebarman | Marksmanship | Anudjawun |
| 2013 | Araldo | Sea Moon | Gotta Take Care |
| 2012 | Tanby | Maluckyday | Dame Claire |
| 2011 | Mourayan | Niwot | Showcause |
| 2010 | Harris Tweed | Exceptionally | Above Average |
| 2009 | Light Vision | Miss Darcey | Zacroona |
| 2008 | Light Vision | Baughurst | Zavite |
| 2007 | Dolphin Jo | The Fuzz | Light Vision |
| 2006 | Irazu | Aznavour | Bay Story |