Annual Action: A Guide to Melbourne's Horse Event Calendar

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Watching or following horse racing is an activity that tens of thousands of people around Australia look forward to every year. It is a great way to spend time with friends, watching the races after a BBQ or shared luncheon. For some lucky folks this year, it will mean attending a race in person, with the Victorian government announcing that the Melbourne Cup will be open at a limited capacity as a compromise with COVID restrictions, while others will get to enjoy the action from the comfort of their living rooms.

But the Australian racing scene isn’t all about the Melbourne Cup, there are plenty of other events to enjoy throughout the year. In this helpful article, you’ll find everything you need to know about each annual event, and we might even share a few Melbourne Cup tips , such as how to narrow down your personal favourite as well.

Caulfield Cup
The Caulfield Cup is arguably the second-biggest horse racing event on the Melbourne spring calendar. Offering a winning prize of A$5,000,000, the Caulfield Cup brings jockeys from all over flocking for a chance at victory, making it one of the most exciting events on Victoria’s horseracing calendar.

This spring event essentially launches Melbourne’s spring carnival. It’s a great time of year for a race, just as the weather is turning sunny and light and the day grows longer with daylight savings.

Held at Caulfield Racecourse each year in October, this year there were no surprises when favourite Incentivise took home the cup.

This race is a key lead up to the Melbourne Cup, and Caulfield Cup winners often field in that race. The event has a long and detailed history in Melbourne racing and is the crown jewel of the Caulfield Cup Carnival.

The event was crowdless this year, due to restrictions, but we’re tipping it will be back and bigger than ever in 2022. Mark your calendars now!

The Melbourne Cup

Did you know that the Melbourne Cup horse race dates all the way back to 1861? That’s over a hundred years of horse racing history.

Held on the first Tuesday of November (the 2nd, this year), it is the biggest horse racing event during Melbourne’s fantastic Spring Carnival, and the entire state even observes a public holiday for the day. It’s known as the race that stops a nation for a reason.

There will be all the usual glitz and glamour and fashion on the day, and with a 10,000 crowd allowed by the Victorian government, we’re bound to see a wide selection of frocks, suits, fascinators and other fancy couture on the day. That is something to get excited about on top of the big race, even if you can’t find a ticket.

We don’t have hot tips for the race yet aside from the current favourite Incentivise, but if you pay close attention to the results of the other races listed here, which precede the big day, you’ll be able to narrow down your own list of favourites easily.

Cox Plate

Another major horse race event is the Cox Plate, which is also held at Moonee Valley Racecourse. This race has run every year since 1922, and the prize money for the first race was 1,000 pounds. It is another thoroughbred race for horses aged three and over and is held under "weight for age" conditions. This year’s race will be held on Saturday, 23rd October and there will be 5 million dollars in prize money available.

A neat piece of racing trivia - did you know the race was part of the World Series in horse racing, alongside races such as the Japan Cup, the Dubai World Cup and the Hong Kong Cup?

If you’re wondering about which horses will show form for the race, keep a close eye on the winners and placers for these races: 1 Caulfield Guineas, the Yalbuma Stakes and the Toorak handicap.

Other Events

Although we’ve shared three events that tend to get the most press and hype, there are plenty of other horse racing events throughout each year for racing fans and punters to enjoy and have a flutter at. After all, Melbourne is home to one of the most important racing events on the global stage, meaning that we have a number of races each with its own rich history and rulesets.

Some worth noting are:

Derby Day: One of the most popular events of The Spring Carnival, Derby Day is a thorougbred horse race which is always held the Saturday prior to the Melbourne Cup. Considered to be one of the more prestigious events on the spring carnival roster, Derby Day promises four action-packed Group 1 races. If you ever get the chance to go, it’s an absolute must!

Empire Rose Stakes: Another of the VRC’s most anticipated events each year, the Empire Rose Stakes consistently offers fantastic feats of horseracing. What sets it apart from other races on the roster is its Weight for Age conditions, ensuring that each horse must have a set weight placed on them based on a variety of conditions, including age, sex, and race distance. In this case, the distance travelled is approximately 1600 meters.

Oakleigh Plate: Set at Caulfield Racecourse with a running distance of 1100 meters, the Oakleigh plate offers a prize of $500,000 to the lucky winner. With a history spanning back to 1884, this race has a wonderfully storied history, and was even held at Flemington Racecourse during World War II.

On The Home Stretch

In this article, we’ve shared the annual auction, and you’ve learnt about Melbourne’s horse event calendar and the three big races that comprise part of it - The Caulfield Cup, The Cox Plate and the Melbourne Cup. You’ve also learnt some neat trivia about some of the big days.

Now that you’re a total expert on the horse racing calendar in Melbourne, what are your tips for the big three this year?