Festivals

Considered by many horse racing enthusiasts as the home to Australian horse racing, Melbourne has many fantastic racing tracks, and the Caulfield Racecourse is certainly regarded as one of them. The Victorian capital is home to two of Australia’s most prolific horse racing events each year – the Autumn Racing Carnival and the Spring Racing Carnival. Caulfield hosts many of the races forming the carnivals, alongside a large number of races throughout the year, maintaining a steady stream of visitors to the track all year round. This website will keep you up to date with all goings on at the track, during the carnivals and the rest of the year – so keep an eye out!

Caulfield Spring Racing Carnival

Each year throughout October and November, Melbourne sees the Spring Racing Carnival take place around the city, and is regarded as the most elite horse racing event around the world. The meet is made up of the Geelong Carnival, the Moonee Valley Carnival, the Sandown Carnival, the Flemington Carnival and of course the Caulfield Carnival. Jumping off at the Flemington Racecourse a week after the AFL Grand Final, the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival hits Caulfield in style with some fantastic race days.

Caulfield Spring Racing Carnival Racedays

During the thrilling Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival, the Caulfield Racecourse is host to three elite days of horse racing down on the track.

Caulfield Guineas Day: Takes place around three weeks before the Victoria Derby.

Thousand Guineas Day: Held the Wednesday after the Caulfield Guineas Day.

Caulfield Cup Day: Held the Saturday after the Caulfield Guineas Day.

Caulfield Spring Carnival Feature Races

The Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival is home to a plethora of fantastic Australian horse races, and during the three main days of racing, the Caulfield Racecourse certainly holds its fair share.

Group 1 Races:

Caulfield Cup: 2400m – 3YO Open Handicap – $2.5 million

Caulfield Guineas: 1600m – 3YO at Set Weights – $1 million

Caulfield Stakes: 2000m – 3YO+ at Weight-For-Age – $400,000

Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes: 1400m – Open Handicap – $350,000

Thousand Guineas: 1600m – 3YO Fillies at Set Weights – $500,000

Toorak Handicap: 1600m – Open Handicap – $350,000

Underwood Stakes: 1800m – 3YO+ at Weight-For-Age – $350,000

Group 2 Races:

Caulfield Sprint: 1100m – Open Handicap – $200,000

Schillaci Stakes: 1000m – 3YO+ at Weight-For-Age – $200,000

Tristarc Stakes: 1400m – 4YO+ Mares at Set Weights & Penalties – $180,000

Winning Edge Stakes: 2400m – Open Handicap – $200,000

Group 3 Races:

Coongy Handicap: 2000m – Open Handicap – $125,000

Guineas Prelude: 3YO Colts & Geldings at Set Weights & Penalties – $175,000

How Now Stakes: 1200m – 4YO+ Mares at Set Weights & Penalties – $125,000

Moonga Stakes: 1400m – 4YO+ at Set Weights & Penalties – $175,000

Naturalism Stakes: 2000m – Open Handicap – $125,000

Norman Robinson Stakes: 2000m – 3YO at Set Weights & Penalties – $125,000

Thoroughbred Club Stakes: 1200m – 3YO Fillies at Set Weights & Penalties – $125,000

Thousand Guineas Prelude: 1400m – 3YO Fillies at Set Weights & Penalties – $175,000

Caulfield Autumn Racing Carnival

The second of the annual carnivals held in Melbourne is the Autumn Racing Carnival, which once again sees many fantastic thoroughbreds hit the tracks in the city over a period of four months. The whole meet is made up of the Flemington Carnival, the Moonee Valley Carnival and the Caulfield Carnival.

Caulfield Autumn Racing Carnival’s Racedays

The Caulfield Racecourse holds five top class racedays throughout the Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival, hosting many elite Australian horses.

Rubiton Stakes Day: Held during early January annually.

C F Orr Stakes Day: Takes place every year in early February.

Blue Diamond Stakes Day: Held in February with three Group 1 races.

Futurity Stakes Day: Takes place on the last Saturday in February every year.

Easter Cup Day: Held on the weekend near Easter Sunday with two Group 3 races.

Caulfield Autumn Racing Carnival Feature Races

Over the five racedays, a vast number of prolific races take place at the Caulfield Racecourse, all drawing in some fantastic competitors.

Group 1 Races:

Blue Diamond Stakes: 1200m – 2YO at Set Weights – $1 million

C F Orr Stakes: 1400m – Open Weight-For-Age – $400,000

Futurity Stakes: 1600m – Open Weight-For-Age – $700,000

Oakleigh Plate: 1100m – Open Handicap – $400,000

Group 2 Races:

Angus Armanasco Stakes: 1600m – 3YO Fillies at Set Weights – $170,000

Pol Roger Stakes: 1800m – 3YO at Set Weights – $180,000

St George Stakes: 1800m – Open Weight-For-Age – $200,000

Group 3 Races:

Blue Diamond Prelude C&G: 1100m – 2YO Colts & Geldings at Set Weights – $125,000

Blue Diamond Prelude F: 1100m – 2YO Fillies at Set Weights – $125,000

Easter Cup: 2000m – Open Handicap – $125,000

Mannerism Stakes: 1400m – 4YO+ Mares at Set Weights & Penalties – $125,000

Rubiton Stakes: 1100m – Open Weight-For-Age – $125,000

Carlyon Cup: 1400m – Open Handicap – $125,000

Victoria Handicap: 1400m – Open Handicap – $125,000