The race has a very long history as it was first run as a Principal race over a mile (about 1600m) in 1883 when it was called the Moonee Valley Cup and was won by a horse called Castaway.It has had a huge number of changes in distance and was even a 6 furlong (about 1200m ) sprint from 1885 to 1888. Since 1900 it has always been over 2000m or more. It has also had several name changes. In 1979 it was upgraded to a Group 3 race and from 1980 onwards it has been a Group 2 race. It has been run at the current 2500 metre distance from 1995 onwards.

For many years it was held on the same day as the W.S. Cox Plate. In early 2023 there was a revamp of the Victorian Spring Carnival and it was moved to the Friday night meeting before the Cox Plate while the Manikato Stakes, which had previously been the feature race of the Friday meeting, was moved to Cox Plate day.

2024 Moonee Valley Gold Cup Preview and results

2023 Moonee Valley Gold Cup Preview and results

2022 Moonee Valley Gold Cup Preview and results

2021 Moonee Valley Gold Cup Preview and results

Last mare to win; Butternut (1985)

Multiple winners: Precedence (2010 & 2013); Valcurl (1945-46); Gilltown (1939 & 1940); Gladwyn (1914 & 1915); Little Bob (1891 & 1892)

Fastest time (2500m): Vatuvei (2001) 2:35:73

Interesting trivia: Trainer Chris Waller prepared the quinella in both 2016 and 2017. In 2002 Thong Classic survived a protest from Rain Gauge.

Winners of past Moonee Valley Gold Cups include horses that go on to win major spring races.