Flemington Racecourse

About

Flemington Racecourse is a major horse racing venue located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is most notable for hosting the Melbourne Cup, which is the world's richest handicap and the world's richest 3200-metre horse race. The racecourse is situated on low alluvial flats, next to the Maribyrnong River. The area was first used for horse racing in March 1840.

The Flemington Racecourse site comprises 1.27 square kilometres of Crown land. The course was originally leased to the Victoria Turf Club in 1848, which merged with the Victoria Jockey Club in 1864 to form the Victoria Racing Club. The first Melbourne Cup was run in 1861. In 1871 the Victoria Racing Club Act was passed, giving the VRC legal control over Flemington Racecourse.

The racecourse is pear-shaped, and boasts a six-furlong (1,200 m) straight known as 'the Straight Six.' The track has a circumference of 2,312 metres (1.437 mi) and a final straight of 450 metres (490 yd) for race distances over 1.2 kilometres (1,300 yd). Races are run in an anti-clockwise direction.

The course has a crowd capacity of over 120,000 and contains three grandstands. The biggest ever attendance was on Victoria Derby Day in 2006 when 129,069 people saw Efficient win the Victoria Derby. On 28 November, 1986, Pope John Paul II celebrated the Mass on the racetrack inner oval. The racecourse has undergone a facelift in recent years, with the opening of a new $45 million grandstand in 2000 and the opening of a new members' grandstand in 2018. It also contains a bronze statue of the famous racehorse Phar Lap, which was donated to the Club as part of Australia's bicentenary celebrations in 1988. Also in celebration was the commission of Harold Freedman 's seven panel mural which traces the History of Racing. The mural is housed is in The Hill Stand, built in 1977.

Flemington Racecourse was added to the Australian National Heritage List on 7 November 2006, announced during the 2006 Melbourne Cup. The site is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register.

Flemington Racecourse today hosts many of Australia's top races, including the Melbourne Cup, Victoria Derby, VRC Oaks, Mackinnon Stakes, Newmarket Handicap, Australian Cup and Lightning Stakes.

The site has its own railway branch line, which operates on race days, bringing visitors to the adjacent railway station. Trains depart from platforms 8 and 9 at Flinders Street Station. The No. 57 tram from the City (Elizabeth and Flinders Streets) stops at the Epsom Road entrance.

Originally, it was serviced by Salt Water River station, before that was demolished in the 1860s and replaced with a station on the present site.

Car spaces for the disabled are available and taxi ranks are located adjacent to the main entrances. Shuttle buses run from Epsom Road to the main turnstiles of the racecourse. Lift access is available in the Prince of Wales Stand and to the first floor of the Members Stand.

The following is a list of Group races which are run at Flemington Racecourse. All races in metres.

To the north of the racecourse and south of the rail line and station, lies a car park, on non race days, it is sometimes used for other events, mainly music festivals and concerts, but has also been used for other events including car shows and local markets

The location typically goes by Flemington Racecourse, but some festivals use different names, Laneway Festival refers to it as "Flemington Park", Tell No Tales festival refers to it as "The Nursery"

Small local events have been hosted at the site for many years, as early as 1996 with a local market that offered fresh foods, jewellery, distinctive clothing, Australian-made art and craft

In the mid 2000s, around 2005-2007 the racecourse was redeveloped, The VRC wanted to increase and diversify their revenue, and to maximize the use of their facilities beyond race days. This redevelopment however, did not rebuild the car park itself.

In March 2008 the Royal Automobile Club of Victoria hosted the RACV Classic showcase. On the 20th of July 2008, the car park hosted the 4th Shannons car show.

On the 17th May 2009, the RACV Classic Showcase was once again held at the venue,also on the, 29th April 2012, 21st April 2013, 30th March 2014,,10th April, 201619th February 2017 and finally

Shannon's also hosted other car shows in 2014.and on the 19th April 2015 and on the 1st of May 2016

Circuses has ran at the car park a few times, including in 2015 with TOTEM 2024 with LUZIA and in 2026 with KOOZA

During the COVID-19 pandemic in Victoria it was proposed to have drive-in concerts at the venue with 12 concerts, plus a movie and comedy night proposed However, due the 2nd lockdown in Melbourne, the events where canceled

Goodlife, an under 18 (years of age) was a festival hosted between 2010 and 2024