The Flemington Racetrack in Melbourne is among Australia’s most prestigious, attracting individuals worldwide for its festivities. Furthermore, Flemington also hosts some of the most popular races, like the Melbourne Cup, amongst several others. If you plan on attending a race at Flemington or even betting on one, it’s important to know what the track is like and what races you can attend. 

Where is the Flemington track

The Flemington Race Track is located in Melbourne, 448 Espon Road, Flemington, Vic 3031. Owned by the Victoria Racing Club, the track can be found 8km outside the Melbourne central business district, making it easy to access by public transport like a train, tram or private vehicle. Here is some important information about the track that you may want to know:

 

• Its circumference is 2312m
• Its straights are 450m from the turn and 1200m down the main straight
• Its width is 30m
• The race distances range between 1000 to 3200m

Popular Flemington races

As one of Australia's fancier race tracks, the Flemington is home to some fairly prestigious races and often attracts a large crowd with its festivities. One popular event that garners a lot of attention is the Spring Racing Carnival, which hosts the famous Melbourne Cup and various other races as part of the Derby Day. 

 

These races all form part of the Melbourne Carnival Cup, one of the biggest racing events on the Australian horse racing calendar. The Melbourne Carnival Cup consists of four race days over a week. These races include the Derby Day, Melbourne Cup, Stakes Day, and Oaks Day. In addition to this jam-packed week of racing, the Flemington will also host 23 races over the year, with 14 being group one races. 

The Melbourne Cup

As Australia’s most famous race, we thought the Melbourne Cup needed some expansion. The Melbourne Cup enlists 24 racers that will race over 2 miles. The race winner can claim the lion's share of $6 million in prizes. 

 

Race distances and barrier information

The races that occur at the Flemining track can be split into several distances. Here are the different race distances:

 

• 1000m, which begins at the chute on the main straight. Barriers don’t really impact these distances
• 1200m, which starts at the same place
• 1400m that starts at the chute on the opposite side of the course and runs straight along the home turn, making the inside barrier a beneficial position to hold
• 1600m is another race distance that makes the inside position valuable. The short starting chute leads racers into a massive home turn
• 1800m has no chute and starts on the courses back straight, allowing the horses to reach a full gallop for 300m before the home turn
• The 2000 metre starts at the back straight, offering racers more time to find a better position
• 2500m, the race starts just before the finish post and the first turn, so there's not much time to settle in early. Over this longer distance, the inside barriers aren’t as much of an advantage as they are in shorter races

A list of the annual races at Flemington

As you approach the horse racing season, it’s helpful to familiarise yourself with the races and when they occur at Flemington. Here are some of the races that Flemington hosts and when they happen per month:

January

• Standish Handicap G3 Open hcp 1200m

February

• Lightning Stakes G1 Open wfa 1000m
• C S Hayes Stakes G3 3YO C&G sw+p 1400m
• The Vanity G3 3YO Fillies sw+p 1200m

March

• Australian Guineas G1 3YO Open sw 1600m
• Frances Tressady Stakes G3 4YO+ Mares sw+p 1400m
• Newmarket Handicap G1 Open hcp 1200m
• Australian Cup G1 Open wfa 2000m
• Kewney Stakes G2 3YO Fillies sw 1400m
• VRC Sires Produce Stakes G2 2YO Open sw 1400m
• Blamey Stakes G2 3YO+ Open sw+p 1600m
• Matron Stakes G3 4YO+ Mares sw+p 1600m
• Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes G3 2YO Fillies sw+p 1200m

August

• Aurie's Star Handicap G3 Open hcp 1200m

September

• Makybe Diva Stakes G1 Open Open wfa 1600m
• Danehill Stakes G2 3YO Open sw+p 1200m
• Let's Elope Stakes G2 4YO+ Mares sw+p 1400m
• Bobbie Lewis Quality G3 Open qlty 1200m

October

• Turnbull Stakes G1 4YO+ Open sw+p 2000m
• Gilgai Stakes G2 Open sw+p 1200m
• Edward Manifold Stakes G2 3YO Fillies sw 1600m
• Rose Of Kingston Stakes G2 4YO+ Mares sw+p 1400m

October/November (Derby Day)

• Victoria Derby G1 3YO Open sw 2500m
• Cantala Stakes G1 Open hcp 1600m
• Coolmore Stud Stakes G1 3yo Open sw 1200m
• Myer Classic G1 3YO+ F&M wfa 1600m
• Wakeful Stakes G2 3YO Fillies sw+p 2000m
• Salinger Stakes G2 3YO+ Open Hcp 1200m
• Chatham Stakes G3 Open hcp 1400m
• Hotham Handicap/Lexus Stakes G3 Open qlty 2500m
• VRC Carbine Club Stakes G3 3YO Open sw+p 1600m

November

• Melbourne Cup G1 Open hcp 3200m
• VRC Oaks/Crown Oaks G1 3YO Fillies sw 2500m
• Emirates (formerly Mackinnon) Stakes G1 Open wfa 2000m
• Darley Classic G1 Open wfa 1200m
• Matriarch Stakes G2 4YO+ Mares hcp 2000m
• VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes G3 Open qlty 2600m
• Maribyrnong Plate G3 2YO Open sw+p 1000m

How do you stay up to date with Flemington races?

If you plan to engage in Flemington races' festivities by betting, you need to ensure that you’re researching and getting your information from the right source. Ladbrokes is a reputable and reliable bookie that can help you keep up with the latest details on Flemington races today, ensuring that you never miss an opportunity to place a successful bet. 

Final thoughts

Each year, Flemington hosts an exciting range of events, allowing you to wear your best outfit and participate in one of Australia’s traditional sporting events. Take a read through the races again and mark them down in your calendar to ensure you don’t miss them. Trust us, you don’t want to miss the excitement!