Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Bob Skelton has died in Melbourne at the age of 81.

A member of one of New Zealand most famous racing families, Skelton's biggest win came aboard Van Der Hum in what is considered the wettest Melbourne Cup in history at Flemington in 1976.

Skelton won more than 2000 races spanning more than 30 years and is an inductee to the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame.

He became an inaugural member of the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame in 2006.

Skelton's riding feats also included five Wellington Cups.

After retiring from the saddle in the late 1980s, Skelton took up training at Mornington in Victoria where his funeral will be held next Wednesday.

BOB SKELTON'S CAREER

* Rode Van Der Hum to win the 1976 Melbourne Cup in atrocious conditions

* Rode 2129 winners

* Inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame in 1995 and the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame in 2006

* Won the New Zealand jockeys' premiership nine times

* Won five Wellington Cups, including three on Great Sensation in 1961, 1962 and 1963.

* Won three New Zealand Cups and two Auckland Cups

* Finished second in the 1986 Melbourne Cup on Rising Fear