Best Horse Racing Events in Australia

Horse racing is extremely popular in Australia, with more racecourses than any other nation around the world. In fact, thoroughbred horse racing ranks third for the most attended spectator sport in Australia. Betting on horse racing with sites like timeform.com is a common pastime and these are five of the best events found throughout the year.

Melbourne Cup

The Melbourne Cup is the king of horse racing events in Australia and typically has the largest fan turnout. The event is held on the first Tuesday in November each year and the race itself is 3,200 metres long. Winners of the Melbourne Cup don’t just receive the prestigious title but also walk away with $3.6 million, and the first ten racers past the finish line receive a portion of the overall $6.2 million cash prize.

W.S Cox Plate

This weight-for-age championship is one for racing purists because while it’s open to any type of thoroughbred, only the very best make it through. The W.S Cox Plate takes place at Moonee Valley and is the toughest course in Australia spanning 2,040 metres. The field is restricted to just 14 horses all vying for the title, but Moonee Valley also tests the skills of the jockey due to the shape of the track.

Caulfield Cup

The second biggest horse racing event in Australia, the Caulfield Cup is a Group 1 thoroughbred race which takes place under handicap conditions. First started in 1879, it’s one of the oldest horse racing events in Australia and has taken place in mid-October at the same track for more than 100 years. Thousands of fans flock to the racecourse each year for this event and it’s one of the top horse races of the year. The total price reaches $3 million and the winner of the 2,400 metre course claims it all.

The Golden Slipper Stakes

The Golden Slipper Stakes takes place annually in March at Rosehill Racecourse in Sydney and is a Group 1 race for two-year-olds. Spanning a distance of 1,200 metres under set weight conditions, this race is worth $3.5 million to the winner. The Golden Slipper Stakes has become the world’s richest race for two-year-old thoroughbreds and is one of the most popular horse racing events in Sydney’s calendar.

Queen Elizabeth Stakes

A Group 1 race that’s run at the Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, the Queen Elizabeth Stakes is the third richest race in Australia. Held since 1851, the race originally spanned 4,800 metres but since 1986, it’s been reduced to 2,000 metres. This popular event is held in April each year in the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.

Victoria Derby

Held since 1855 in Melbourne, the Victoria Derby is a middle-distance race that serves as the opening event of the VRC Spring Carnival and is known as Derby Day. The Victoria Derby is one of the oldest races in the world and has a $1.5 million prize attached. It’s actually one of the more fun races to place a bet on as the race often produces some unexpected surprises.