Caulfield Racecourse

The Caulfield Racecourse is operated by the Melbourne Racing club.

Caulfield Racecourse is located approx 8 kilometres from the Melbourne CBD, on the boundary of Caulfield and Caulfield East in Melbourne's south eastern suburbs. It is home to the Melbourne Racing Club.

Racing first started at Caulfield Racecourse in 1876 and was controlled by the Victoria Amateur Turf Club (VATC). The 1st race meeting took place at Dowling Forest racetrack in Ballarat before Caulfield became the permanent home in Melbourne not long after. The track is also known as "The Heath" by local punters.

In March 1940, Caulfield Racecourse was temporarily taken over by the Army during the war years as a recruiting depot and barracks. Whilst the military had occupation of the course all VATC race meetings were transferred to the Flemington Racecourse.

In 1995, after reconstruction of the course proper, the home straight was lengthened by 43 metres and the entire circumference of the course was widened to 30 metres.

The Racing Club began a 5 year plan back in 2001 to construct a 2nd turf track at Sandown Racecourse to be known as Hillside and the existing track to be renamed Lakeside. Another major upgrade of facilities and training tracks and to establish 20 feature race days at the Caulfield Racecourse. Incorporated in this plan, the Club changed from VATC to become the Melbourne Racing Club.

The Melbourne Racing Club controls both Sandown & Caulfield Racecourse. There is over 60 plus race days every year at the these tracks, which is about half of all the metro racing taking place in the city of Melbourne.

The Caulfield Racecourse circumference is 2,080 metres and has a home straight being 367 metres long. Racing is run in an anti-clockwise direction. The track has sweeping long corners and there is a rise along the back of the racecourse leading to the 1400m start. The racecourse is very fair and is large enough for runners to come from the back and win.

The totally glassed in Rupert Clarke stand provides a magnificent view of the entire Caulfield Racecourse.

Melbourne Racing Club races 20 times per season at Caulfield Racecourse and is its premier racetrack.

In the Spring time, Caulfield Racecourse hosts the 3 day Caulfield Carnival which includes the Caulfield Guineas Day, Thousand Guineas Day and Caulfield Cup Day.

The Summer Carnival, Caulfield Racecourse hosts Victoria's richest event for two-year-olds, the Blue Diamond Stakes.

In Autumn it hosts races such as the Oakleigh Plate, C.F. Orr Stakes and Futurity Stakes.

Transport To The Racecourse:

• The Track is on Melbourne tram route 3 and is takes approx 20-30 minutes from the CBD. The tram travels from the city along Swanston St & departs every 12 minutes from the Flinders and Swanston St.
• Caulfield Railway Station is only one hundred metres from the track and can be found on the Cranbourne, Frankston and Pakenham lines. Trains leave every ten minutes from Melbourne CBD Flinders Street Station.
• Driving to Caulfield is only 20 minutes from Melbourne's CBD, travel along South Eastern Arterial or Dandenong Road. You will see clear traffic signs indicating when to turn off to the racecourse.
• Caulfield Racecourse has disabled parking area near the main entrance to the course on Station St. Lifts are available to the grandstands and disabled toilets are available.

Contact:

MELBOURNE RACING CLUB
Station Street,
Gate 22
PO Box 231,
Caulfield East,
Victoria 3145
Ph. (03) 9257 7200
Fax (03) 9257 7210
Email: [email protected]

Caulfield Racecourse, home of the Caulfield Cup and other feature races including Caulfield Guineas | Blue Diamond Stakes | C F Orr Stakes | Oakleigh Plate | Underwood Stakes | Futurity Stakes and more....

Find below all the Group Races run at the Caulfield Racecourse during the season.

Caulfield Racecourse Barrier Guide

• 1000 metres: Start is at the beginning of the chute off the course proper and provides runners with 650 metres of straight run before th sweeping home turn. Inside barriers are only a slight advantage.

• 1100 metres: Similar to the 1000 metre start except runners now have a 750 metre run before the home turn. Inside barriers have a slight advantage.

• 1200 metres: Similar to the 1000 metre start except runners now have a 850 metre run before the home turn. Inside barriers have a slight advantage.

• 1440 metres: Located in a small chute at the back section of the track off the course proper. This start gives runners only 190 metres before the first of two turns. Inside barrier draws are a definite advantage.

• 1600 metres: The start is located in the back section of the course and only provides runners with a 200 metre straight before the first turn. Inside barriers are a distinct advantage.

• 1800 metres: This start is located in the back section of the course and gives runners a straight run for 400 metres. Inside barriers have an advantage.

• 2020 metres: Located in a small chute off the course proper on the side of the track. With this start field sizes are usually limited. Inside barriers have an advantage.