Sandown Park Racecourse

Sandown Park Racecourse, Melbourne VICTORIA

Sandown Racecourse is situated 25 kilometres from the Melbourne CBD on the Princes Highway in the suburb of Springvale in the City of Greater Dandenong.

Sandown Park racecourse is operated by the Melbourne Racing Club.

The Sandown Park Racecourse had a major upgrade in 1999 and its premier race, the Sandown Cup, was reinvented as the Sandown Classic, with increased prize money and a change from handicap to weight-for-age conditions. A permanent Quarantine Centre at Sandown Park Racecourse was completed in 1997 and used to house visiting international horses.

Racing commenced at Sandown Racecourse in 1965 and was administered by the Victoria Amateur Turf Club (VATC) which also looked after racing at Caulfield. The Club started a five 5 year plan in 2001 to establish a second turf track at Sandown to be known as Hillside, and the existing track to be renamed Lakeside. As part of the plan the Club also changed from the VATC to become the Melbourne Racing Club.

The Sandown Racecourse Hillside track has a circumference of 2,087 metres and straight of 491 metres, whilst the Lakeside track has a circumference of 1,857 metres and straight of 407 metres.

The Melbourne Racing Club operates at both Caulfield Racecourse and Sandown Racecourse and holds 60 plus race meetings each year across the two locations, which acounts for almost half of all city racing in Melbourne.

Sandown Park Racecourse is a specialist track. Barriers are not that important here as all starts there is a good straight to get your mount into a good position.  Sandown Racecourse is not really a front runners track as many are run down by horses coming from well back.  

There are many races held at Sandown Racecourse throughout the year with the highlights being the Sandown Stakes and the Sandown Classic, which used to be known as the Sandown Cup.

• 1000 metres:  This start  is located at the end of a long chute off the course proper. There is a straight run of about 600 metres to the home turn. Barriers are not that important here.

• 1200 metres:  Situated on the course proper in the back straight of the course. there is a straight run of about 400 metres before a sweeping double bend to the home straight. Inside barriers are a slight advantage.

• 1400 metres:  Also in the back straight giving runners a 600 metre straight before the turn.  Barriers are of little consequence.

• 1500 metres:  This start can be found in a chute off the back straight. Again barriers don't really come into play due to the long 700 metres straight.

• 1600 metres:  This barrier is found at the end of the chute in the back straight giving runners a long 800 metre straight run before the turn.  

• 2100 metres:  This barrier is located in the home straight. There is a good straight run of about 400 metres to the first sweeping double bend. Inside barriers are a slight advantage.

• 2400 metres:  This barrier starts in a chute at the top of the home straight.  There is a good run straight run of about 700 metres to the first sweeping double bend. Inside barriers are a slight advantage.

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