The 2026 Melbourne Cup Calcutta at Yarra Golf was another great success, with a record prize pool of $25,188 making it the biggest Calcutta yet!

Held on Monday 2 November, the annual event attracted a strong crowd of members, locals and holiday visitors, with plenty of interest in this popular Melbourne Cup tradition.

Ticket sales got things off to a great start, generating a $15,000 prize pool before the auctions even began. With auctioneer extraordinaire Ted Shackleton leading proceedings, some spirited bidding battles followed as punters looked to secure their favourite runners.

By the end of the night, the prize pool had climbed to a record $25,188, a fantastic result for an event that continues to grow year on year.

The Clubhouse was buzzing throughout the evening, with 700 diners in the Border Bistro and a great atmosphere as members and visitors enjoyed the Melbourne Cup long weekend.

A big thank you to Ted Shackleton, everyone who purchased tickets or took part in the auctions, and all our front and back of house staff for their efforts on what was a very busy night.

Congratulations to Our Winners!

The record prize pool was shared between the following winners:

• 1st Prize: Darren McGrillen – Point Of Law – $15,113 (60%)
• 2nd Prize: Peter Zampin – Zahrann – $6,297 (25%)
• 3rd Prize: Paul Tanner – Juja Kibo – $2,519 (10%)
• Last Across the Post: Sandy & Tim – Vauban – $1,259 (5%)

Congratulations to all our winners, and thanks to everyone who helped make this year’s Melbourne Cup Calcutta such a success.

We look forward to doing it all again next year!