| Melbourne Cup | |
| Location | Flemington Racecourse |
|---|---|
| Date | 3 Nov 1981 |
| Distance | 3200m |
| Winning horse | Just a Dash |
| Winning time | 3:21.20 |
| Final odds | 15/1 |
| Jockey | Peter Cook |
| Trainer | Tommy J. Smith |
| Owner | Lloyd Williams, George Grew and Tom Peppiona |
| Surface | Turf |
The 1981 Melbourne Cup was a handicap horse race which took place on Tuesday, 3 November 1981 over 3200m, at Flemington Racecourse.