Melbourne Racecourses To Visit

Melbourne Racecourses To Visit

Melbourne locals are known for being lovers of not just the ordinary but also the extraordinary. Typically popular as fun-loving individuals, you will surely not be surprised to find out that there are a lot of racecourses to visit in this city. If you happen to share the same favourite pastime with residents of Melbourne, you will surely want to know what your choices are in this regard. Hire bus charter in Melbourne to make it easier for your travel group to visit these destinations within and around the city.

Caulfield Racecourse

Known as ‘The Heath’ to racegoers in Melbourne Australia, the Caulfield Racecourse is one of the most popular courses in Victoria, Australia. Located about 8 kilometres from the Melbourne, CBD particularly on the boundaries of Caulfield East and Caulfield, it is the home to the Melbourne Racing Club. It hosts an approximate of 20 race days for each season and has been known as the grounds for racing events like Futurity Stakes, Underwood Stakes, Oakleigh Plate, Caulfield Guineas and Caulfield Cup amongst others.

Flemington Racecourse

A major horse racing venue found in Melbourne, Flemington Racecourse is actually the home to many of the most popular racing events in the whole of Australia namely Victoria Derby, VRC Oaks, Lighting Stakes, Newmarket Handicap, and Australian Cup among others. Amongst all these horseraces held at the said racecourse, however, it has become most notable for hosting the world’s richest 3200-metre horserace and richest handicap horserace, the Melbourne Cup. Owned by Victoria Racing Club and opened on March 1840, Flemington Racecourse remains to be one of the best-loved racecourses in the whole of Australia.

Ladbrokes Park

Previously known as Sandown Racecourse, Ladbrokes Park is administered by the Melbourne Racing Club. It was opened on March 11, 1962, and was built for the Victoria Amateur Turf Club. Known to be the host of thoroughbred racing, this is the only metropolitan racecourse which has been built in the 20th century. It was only in June 1965 when the racecourse was opened to the public, with a total of 52,000 people gracing the occasion. The racecourse is also known for featuring a motor racing circuit.

Moonee Valley Racecourse

Hosting races for thoroughbreds, Mooney Valley Racecourse is located about 6 kilometres from Melbourne CBD and is particularly situated at the Mooney Valley City’s Moonee Ponds. With a circumference of 1,805 metres, it has a finishing straight of 173 metres which is noted as the shortest in Australia. It is constructed of the StrathAyr Turf System and is home to a total of 12 function rooms which can cater to up to 1,200 people on non-race days.

Bairnsdale Racecourse

A racecourse specifically located in the town of Bairnsdale in the East Gippsland region, this racecourse can be visited by spectators coming from Melbourne. It takes about 3.5 hours from Melbourne to drive to this racecourse and is one among the racing communities located in the Princess Highway. The events hosted by the racecourse are run by the Bairnsdale Racing Club which include up to seven meetings annually which include 1000 up to 2200 metre races.

Ballarat Racecourse

Taking about an hour and a half drive from Melbourne, Ballarat is situated over 300 hectares of land and is presently the home to one of Victoria’s major thoroughbred training centres. Opened in 1854, it has been operated since then by the Ballarat Turf Club. A premier provincial track in the whole of the region, it has been hosting 32 race days for each season. It is famous for hosting the Victorian Spring Racing Carnival which ends with the Ballarat Cup, a race forming part of the handicap horseraces which can win a racer a total of $130,000 in prize money. It is also the home for ‘Winter in the Forest Races’, ‘Family Fun Day Race’ and’ Christmas Party Race Day’.

Geelong Racecourse

Located 80 kilometres south of Melbourne, the Geelong Racecourse is one of the most fascinating racecourses outside of Melbourne but still within Victoria. It hosted the first ever Geelong race in 1841 but had to move to another site because of extreme flooding in its original site, Corio. In 1908, the current Geelong Racecourse was opened and has been run by The Geelong Race Club. It is home to the Geelong Cup, a Group 3 race which runs over a distance of 2,400 metres. In order to allow for an all-weather racing, the track’s grass surface was transformed into a synthetic one.

Mornington Racecourse

While Mornington Racecourse is not really located within Melbourne, it can be reached after a 45-minute drive from the city. Metro-based trainers often send their horses to this formidable country track because it has been noted as one that offers the best experiences not just in the world of metropolitan horse racing but also rural horse racing. Since it has been located along the captivating sceneries of the Mornington Peninsula, many racegoers have been fascinated by the thought of visiting the racecourse. It is popular for hosting February’s Mornington Cup and October’s Gunbower Cup.

Pakenham Racecourse

A critical part of Racing Victoria, this racecourse is located northwest of Melbourne. It provides the most genuine infrastructure that fills the gap between the genuine bush circuits and metro level racing thus giving horse racers the chance they want when racing while also picking up the most coveted prize money at a provincial level. Operated and managed by the Pakenham Racing Club, it plays host to the Pakenham Cup which is held at the end of March with a total prize pool amounting to $100,000.

Sale Racecourse

Forming part of the Princess Highway, this is effectively located east of Melbourne. A top quality provincial circuit, it has 3200 metres of turf and is run by the Sale Turf Club since it opened in 1842. It has been noted as one of the most influential provincial circuits in all of Victoria having been able to produce talents that can compete at the national level. It has been once the home for Sky Heights and Makybe Diva, two of the most prominent winners in the racecourse. It is host to over 20 meetings on a yearly basis and is backed up by an overwhelming support from the entire region.

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