Flemington Racecourse

Flemington Racecourse is located at Flemington Drive off Epsom Rd Flemington 3032 VICTORIA.

Flemington Racecourse is the best-known Racecourse in Australia. It is situated 6km northwest of the Melbourne CBD, by the Maribyrnong River.

Flemington Racecourse is the most significant racing heritage site in the country and in 2006 it was placed on the National Heritage List. It is the oldest continuing metropolitan Racecourse - there have been races here every year since 1840.

The first race meeting held here was on the rough river flats beside the Maribyrnong River in March 1840 when Melbourne as a town was barely five years old. This was two years after Melbourne's first race meeting, near present-day Spencer Street railway station (March 1838).

The Victoria Racing Club controls all racing at Flemington since 1864. Before that there were two rival clubs, the Victoria Turf Club (1852) and the Victoria Jockey Club (1857). Both these clubs finally disbanded and thus the Victoria Racing Club, (VRC) was born.

Flemington Racecourse has also been a great centre for horse training. Many of Australia's most famous trainers have maintained stables at or near Flemington Racecourse.

Following the 2006 Melbourne Cup Carnival, the Flemington Racecourse proper was ripped up to be fully replaced for the first time in the course's history. Racing was suspended at Flemington Racecourse until September 2007.

Flemington Racecourse, home of Australia's famous Melbourne Cup and belongs to the Victoria Racing Club, Melbourne Victoria. Flemington Racecourse has a circumference of 2,312 metres and a home straight of 450 metres. Races are held over distances from 1000 metres to 3200 metres. The track provides plenty of room and is very fair. It gives nearly all runners an equal chance to win no matter what position in running they are in.

The Flemington Racecourse is shaped similar to a pear, and has a 1200 metre straight known as the Straight Six. The racecourse has a circumference of 2312 metres and a final straight of 450 metres for events over 1200 metres and the width of the track is 30 metres. Races are run in an anti-clockwise direction.

Spring Racing Carnival

The Race Club holds numerous racing meetings every year with the most famous being the Spring Racing Carnival which hosts the "The Melbourne Cup", the most prestigious race in Australia, which is held on the first Tuesday in November.

The four-day carnival at Flemington Racecourse also has other feature races like the Victoria Derby, Crown Oaks and the Emirates Stakes.

Autumn Racing Carnival

The Autumn Racing Carnival at Flemington Racecourse is held in February & March every year. The main race day of the carnival is the Super Saturday of Racing featuring two Group 1 races, the Newmarket Handicap and the Australian Cup. Other races include the Group 1 Australian Guineas and the Group 1 Lightning Stakes.

Transport To Flemington Racecourse:

• Trains leave every 15 minutes from Flinders Street Station, platforms 8, 9 and 10  to the Southern Cross Station adjacent to the racecourse. Trains also leave the Nth Melbourne Station platforms 5 and 6 to the Racecourse.
• Taxi are readily available at the Taxi Rank outside the main entrance.
• Buses leave regularly from Epsom Road and travel to the main entrance to the racecourse.
• Tram 57 leaves from Flinders St and Elizabeth St to the Racecourse and stops on Flemington Drive.

Contact:

VICTORIA RACING CLUB
400 Epsom Road
Flemington,
Victoria 3031
Ph. (03) 9258 4666
Fax (03) 9258 4605
Email: [email protected]

The racecourse can hold over 120,000 patrons and contains 3 grandstands. The largest ever attendance was on VRC Derby Day in 2006 when over 129,000 people watched Efficient win the VRC Derby.  

Flemington Racecourse is the home of the Melbourne Cup | Australian Cup | Lightning Stakes | Newmarket Handicap | Makybe Diva Stakes | Victoria Derby | Crown Oaks and more....

Find below all the Group Races held at Flemington Racecourse during the season.

Flemington Racecourse Barrier Guide

• 1000 metres: Located in a chute off the home straight. It provides runners a straight run to the finishing post. Barriers don't really come into play unless there is a track bios on the day.

• 1200 metres: Similar to the 1000 metres start. This start is located at the end of a chute at the top of the home straight. This provides a straight run to the winning post.

• 1400 metres: This starts in a chute off the course proper providing a short straight run of 200 metres before a double sweeping turn to the home straight. Inside barrier draws are a definite advantage.

• 1600 metres: Located in a small chute off the course proper. Runners are on a curve until straightening for home at the 450 metres. Inside barriers are a definite advantage.

• 1800 metres: This start is situated on the course proper at the back section of the track. There is a straight run of nearly 300 metres before the first turn. Inside barriers have an advantage.

• 2000 metres: This start is located on the side of the track on the course proper. Inside barriers are favoured.

• 2500 metres: Starts on the course proper in the home straight. There is only a straight run of 200 metres to a tight double turn. Inside barriers are a slight advantage.

• 3200 metres: This start is located in a chute off the home straight. It provides runners with a straight run of 900 metres before the double turn. Barriers are of little importance.