Horse Racing in Australia
Home of the Melbourne Cup — the race that stops a nation — Australia boasts a world-class racing industry with major carnivals in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and beyond.
8
Racecourses
5
States
Australia's Racing Carnival Culture
Australian horse racing is anchored by the Melbourne Spring Carnival — six weeks of elite racing from October to November centred on Flemington, Caulfield, and Moonee Valley. The Melbourne Cup, run at Flemington on the first Tuesday of November since 1861, is a public holiday in Victoria and watched by millions worldwide. The Cox Plate at Moonee Valley — Australia's weight-for-age championship — and the Caulfield Cup complete the carnival's Group 1 trilogy.
In Sydney, The Everest at Royal Randwick is the world's richest turf race, while the autumn Golden Eagle and the Championships provide a blockbuster start to the season. Brisbane's Winter Carnival at Eagle Farm delivers the Stradbroke Handicap. Western Australia, South Australia, and Queensland each maintain strong domestic racing programmes.
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New South Wales(NSW)
2 tracks
Featured
NSW
Sydney's premier thoroughbred venue, Royal Randwick is home to the Golden Eagle, The Everest, and The Championships — Australia's richest racing festival.
NSW
A Western Sydney jewel, Rosehill hosts the Golden Rose and a packed autumn and spring programme that makes it a critical part of the Sydney racing calendar.
Queensland(QLD)
1 track
QLD
Queensland's most prestigious thoroughbred track, Eagle Farm in Brisbane hosts The Stradbroke Handicap and is the centrepiece of the Brisbane Winter Carnival.
South Australia(SA)
1 trackSA
South Australia's finest track, Morphettville hosts the Adelaide Cup and a strong autumn carnival, serving as the hub of South Australian thoroughbred racing.
Victoria(VIC)
3 tracks
FeaturedVIC
Home of the Melbourne Cup — the race that stops a nation — Flemington is Australia's most iconic track, hosting the Spring Carnival that defines Australian racing culture.
VIC
Melbourne's compact but beloved inner-city track, Moonee Valley is home to the Cox Plate — Australia's weight-for-age championship and one of the world's great races.
VIC
One of Melbourne's great suburban tracks, Caulfield hosts the Caulfield Cup — one of the world's richest handicap races — and is a key Spring Carnival venue.
Western Australia(WA)
1 track
WA
Western Australia's premier racing venue, Ascot Perth hosts the Perth Cup and a packed summer carnival, drawing large crowds to the banks of the Swan River.