First run in 1866, the Brisbane Cup originated as a principal race run over 18 furlongs, and was won by Forester. The distance was reduced the following year in 1867 to 16 furlongs. For the years in 1883 and 1888 the race distance was shortened even further to 14 furlongs. From 1942 to 1945 the Brisbane Cup was not held due to the war, it resumed again in 1946 and was run over 12 furlongs, going back to 16 furlongs the next year. When the metric system was introduced to Australia in 1973, the event was conducted over 3,200 metres and was elevated to Group 1 status in 1980. From 1980 the Brisbane Cup was Group 1 event raced over the traditional Cup distance of 3200m, the same as the Melbourne and Sydney Cups. However, in 2007 the race length was shortened to 2400m and its status was demoted to Group 2. The Brisbane Cup is still considered one of the chief lead-ups to the Melbourne Cup.
The most successful trainer in the Brisbane Cup, producing an impressive five champions is TJ Smith with winners in 1984, 1974, 1941, 1965 and 1961.
Below is the Brisbane Cup honour role.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2009 | Scenic Shot |
| 2008 | Viewed |
| 2007 | New Port |
| 2006 | Art Success |
| 2005 | Portland Singa |
| 2004 | Danestorm |
| 2003 | Piachay |
| 2002 | Prized Gem |
| 2001 | Star Covet |
| 2000 | Yippyio |
| 1999 | Sheer Kingston |
| 1998 | Praise Indeed |
| 1997 | Desert Chill |
| 1996 | Dupain |
| 1995 | Desert Chill |
| 1994 | Sky Flyer |
| 1993 | Barbut Delcia |
| 1992 | Grooming |
| 1991 | Just A Dancer |
| 1990 | Shuzohra |
| 1989 | Coshking |
| 1988 | Lord Hybrow |
| 1987 | Limitless |
| 1986 | Marlon |
| 1985 | Foxseal |
| 1984 | Chiamare |
| 1983 | Amarant |
| 1982 | Queen’s Road |
| 1981 | Four Crowns |
| 1980 | Love Bandit |
| 1979 | Grey Affair |
| 1978 | Muros |
| 1977 | Reckless |
| 1976 | Balmerino |
| 1975 | Herminia |
| 1974 | Igloo |
| 1973 | Irish Whip |
| 1972 | Mode |
| 1971 | Royal Shah |
| 1970 | Cachondeo |
| 1969 | Galleon King |
| 1968 | Prominence |
| 1967 | Fulmen |
| 1966 | Apa |
| 1965 | Fair Patton |
| 1964 | Fair Patton |
| 1963 | Campo |
| 1962 | Kamikaze |
| 1961 | Tulloch |
| 1960 | Valerius |
| 1959 | Macdougal |
| 1958 | Timor |
| 1957 | Cambridge |
| 1956 | Redcraze |
| 1955 | The Wash |
| 1954 | Lancaster |
| 1953 | Hydrogen |
| 1952 | Putoko |
| 1951 | Prince O’ Fairies |
| 1950 | Silver Buzz |
| 1949 | Sanctus |
| 1948 | Sicarda |
| 1947 | Blue Boots |
| 1946 | Good Idea |
| 1945 | Race not held |
| 1944 | Race not held |
| 1943 | Race not held |
| 1942 | Race not held |
| 1941 | Lady Buzzard |
| 1940 | Tragopan |
| 1939 | Spear Chief |
| 1938 | Spear Chief |
| 1937 | Glen’s Spear |
| 1936 | Lough Neagh |
| 1935 | Rivalli |
| 1934 | St. Valorey |
| 1933 | Herolage |
| 1932 | St. Valorey |
| 1931 | Royal Smile |
| 1930 | Trainer |
| 1929 | In Petto |
| 1928 | Canning Queen |
| 1927 | Kentle |
| 1926 | Piastoon |
| 1925 | Te Kara |
| 1924 | Balaton |
| 1923 | Seremite |
| 1922 | Grichka |
| 1921 | Impeyan |
| 1920 | Golden Sunset |
| 1919 | Venerable |
| 1918 | Irish Princess |
| 1917 | Bunting |
| 1916 | Demeranthis |
| 1915 | Rue Victoria |
| 1914 | Cagou |
| 1913 | Rosard |
| 1912 | Goard |
| 1911 | Black Paint |
| 1910 | Curve |
| 1909 | Fightaway |
| 1908 | Plunder |
| 1907 | Haidee |
| 1906 | Scorcher |
| 1905 | Fitz Grafton |
| 1904 | Fitz Grafton |
| 1903 | Jessie |
| 1902 | Palmer |
| 1901 | Rabato |
| 1900 | Boreas II |
| 1899 | Dundonald |
| 1898 | Rubydor |
| 1897 | Battalion |
| 1896 | Tornado |
| 1895 | Orville |
| 1894 | Yelverton |
| 1893 | Tridentate |
| 1892 | Splendide |
| 1891 | Lurline |
| 1890 | Lyndhurst |
| 1889 | Quicksilver |
| 1888 | Sirius |
| 1887 | Wetherondale |
| 1886 | Bonnie Bee |
| 1885 | Lancer |
| 1884 | Legacy |
| 1883 | Mozart |
| 1882 | Proctor |
| 1881 | Lord Clifden |
| 1880 | Major |
| 1879 | Sydney |
| 1878 | The Dean / Strathearn |
| 1877 | Sunrise |
| 1876 | Irish Stew |
| 1875 | Carbine |
| 1874 | Zanco |
| 1873 | Wanderer |
| 1872 | Zanco |
| 1871 | Greyskim |
| 1870 | Dandy |
| 1869 | Premier |
| 1868 | Sydney |
| 1867 | North Australian |
| 1866 | Forester |