17
24 horses ran in the 2010 Melbourne Cup.
24 horses ran in the 2008 Melbourne Cup.
A limit of 24 horses can now run in the Melbourne Cup for safety reasons, though more than that have run in it in the past.
42
== ==
The first Melbourne Cup was run on 7 November 1861, and was attended by a crowd of around 4000. It was won by Archer out of a field of 17 horses. They were racing for 170 pounds cash and a gold watch.
You can watch the horses run at Flemington.
3
Thoroughbred horses.
Normally about 24!!
The first ever Melbourne cup was on the 2nd of November 1861
So really silly people can place bets on horses