2023 Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival Race Dates

The 2024 Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival is the premier racing carnival in Australia and is run from August to November each year. The carnival features a number of internationally acclaimed Group 1 races, including the Caufield Cup, the Cox Plate, the Victoria Derby and the Melbourne Cup with the 2024 Melbourne Cup date set for Tuesday, November 5, 2024.

Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival News

2024 Caulfield Cup Field & Barrier Draw Confirmed: Waller Wins with Buckaroo in 8 and Land Legend Inside Alley

The Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival features a premier series of Group 1 races run in Victoria across August – November each year headlined by the four-day Melbourne Cup Carnival.

Meetings held during the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival include the Caulfield Carnival, the Geelong Carnival, the Moonee Valley Carnival, and the Flemington Spring Carnival. Additionally, some of Australia’s premier racecourses schedule a “breakfast with the stars” where guests can watch the horses perform track activities.

Group 1 racing during the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival kicks off in August with the Memsie Stakes at Caulfield Racecourse, while Flemington’s first Group 1 race of the spring season is the Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) for Caulfield Cup types.

There are a host of early features offering big prize money and huge spring betting opportunities for punters including the Group 1 $3 million Caulfield Guineas (1600m) run in mid-October.

The Melbourne Spring Carnival action begins to really heat-up at the end of October when the first of the ‘Big 3’ spring majors takes place – the Group 1 $5 million Caulfield Cup (2400m). The Sydney Spring Racing Carnival currently runs the $20 million The Everest (1200m) on the same day.

A week after the season’s best stayers do battle Moonee Valley hosts the Group 1 $5 million Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m). Finally the action moves to Flemington for the Melbourne Cup Carnival headlined by the running of the ‘race that stops a nation’ – the Group 1 $8.4 million Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) contested over the two miles on the first Tuesday of November.

From 2022 in a further bid to keep the attention on Sydney during the spring Racing NSW runs the $3 million The Big Dance (1600m) at Royal Randwick on Melbourne Cup Day each year.

Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival Days

The Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival race days offer punters plenty of action, Group races to bet on, and features the world’s best horses with the top odds on events like the Melbourne Cup open all year long at bookmakers around the country including Ladbrokes.com.au.

2024 P.B. LAWRENCE STAKES DAY

Saturday. August 14, 2024 – Caulfield Racecourse

Caulfield kicks off the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival action in August with P.B. Lawrence Stakes Day, headlined by the Group 2 race for Caulfield Cup-bound horses.

Group 2 $300,000 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m)
Group 3 $200,000 Quezette Stakes (1100m)
Group 3 $200,000 Vain Stakes (1100m)

2024 MEMSIE STAKES DAY

Saturday, August 31, 2024 – Caulfield Racecourse

The Caulfield Racing Carnival continues on either the final Saturday in August or first of September and is headlined by the start of Group 1 racing in Melbourne for the spring, middle-distance gallopers doing battle in the Memsie Stakes. Early Caulfield Guineas types then do battle in the Group 3 support act, the HDF McNeil Stakes.

Group 1 $750,000 Memsie Stakes (1400m)
Group 3 $200,000 H.D.F. McNeil Stakes (1200m)
Group 3 $200,000 Cockram Stakes (1200m)
Group 3 $200,000 The Heath 1100 (1100m)

2024 MOIR STAKES DAY

Saturday, September 7, 2024- Moonee Valley Racecourse

A change-up to the spring racing dates in 2024 sees the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) run at the Valley in early September, moved from its previous later time slot. The line-up is headlined by the sprinters doing battle in the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) where plenty of star short-distance specialists warm-up for other upcoming Group 1 sprints.

Group 1 $750,000 Moir Stakes (1000m)
Listed $175,000 Chautauqua Stakes (1200m)
Listed $175,000 Atlantic Jewel Stakes (1200m)
Listed $175,000 McKenzie Stakes (1200m)

2024 MAKYBE DIVA STAKES DAY

Saturday, September 14, 2024 – Flemington Racecourse

The next elite level spring betting opportunity runs in mid-September with Flemington Racecourse hosting the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) for potential Cox Plate and Caulfield Cup contenders. The other top races on the card include the Group 2 Bobbie Lewis Quality for potential Sydney-bound The Everest horses.

In 2024 the Lexus Archer Stakes – previously held on VRC Derby Day three days out from the ‘race that stops a nation’ – joins the Makybe Diva Stakes Day card offering a Melbourne Cup ballot exemption.

Group 1 $750,000 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m)
Group 2 $300,000 Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m)
Group 2 $300,000 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m)
Group 3 $300,000 Lexus Archer Stakes (2500m)

2024 UNDERWOOD STAKES DAY

Saturday, September 21, 2024 – Caulfield Racecourse

The Group 1 Underwood Stakes features on its own headline race meeting at Caulfield in 2024 with the 1800m event serving as a key Caulfield Cup lead-up. The Caulfield Guineas-bound three-year-old colts and geldings meanwhile contest the Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude while the Naturalism Stakes is the other top Caulfield Cup lead-up race on the card.

Group 1 $750,000 Underwood Stakes (1800m)
Group 3 $300,000 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m)
Group 3 $200,000 Naturalism Stakes (2000m)

2024 LADBROKES MANIKATO STAKES NIGHT

Friday, September 27, 2024 – Moonee Valley Racecourse

The first night meeting of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival takes place on a Friday evening at the end of September under the lights at Moonee Valley Racecourse with the action headlined by the Ladbrokes-sponsored $2 million Manikato Stakes for Champions Sprint and The Everest types. Buffering (2013) was the last to do the Manikato Stakes – VRC Sprint Classic (now Champions Sprint) double.

In 2024 Manikato Stakes Night also features a Cox Plate lead-up in the form of the $500,000 Feehan Stakes.

Group 1 $2 million Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes (1200m)
Group 2 $500,000 John F. Feehan Stakes (1600m) (Formerly the Dato’ Tan Chin Nam)
Group 2 $300,000 Bill Stutt Stakes (1600m)
Group 2 $300,000 WH Stocks Stakes (1600m)
Group 3 $200,000 Scarborough Stakes (1200m)

2024 SANDOWN STAKES DAY

Saturday, September 28, 2024 – Sandown Hillside

The Sandown Stakes heads a Sandown Hillside Saturday meeting in late October.

Group 3 $200,000 Sandown Stakes (1500m)

2024 TURNBULL STAKES DAY

Saturday, October 5, 2024 – Flemington Racecourse

A bumper day’s racing is scheduled at Flemington for Turnbull Stakes Day in early October including the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) for gallopers potentially heading into the Caulfield Cup field over 400m further next race. Plenty of ace horses have won the Caulfield Cup via a lead-up run in the Turnbull Stakes including Jameka (2nd in 2016) and Fawkner (3rd in 2013). The meeting also now features the Group 2 Danehill Stakes for three-year-olds that could step-up in distance for the Guineas races or be freshened-up for a Coolmore Stud Stakes target during the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

Group 1 $750,000 Turnbull Stakes (2000m)
Group 2 $300,000 Danehill Stakes (1200m)
Group 2 $300,000 Blazer Stakes (1400m) – known in 2024 as the Rose Of Kingston Stakes
Group 2 $300,000 Gilgai Stakes (1200m)
Group 2 $300,000 Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m)
Group 3 $500,000 The Bart Cummings (2500m)

2024 CAULFIELD GUINEAS DAY

Saturday, October 12, 2024 – Caulfield Racecourse

Caulfield hosts a huge day of racing and punting in mid-October for Caulfield Guineas Day. The meeting is headlined by the lucrative $3 million Caulfield Guineas (1600m) for the season’s best middle-distance three-year-olds that may have come off a Sydney lead-up run in the Golden Rose Stakes the month before.

There are a further two Group 1 events on the card with the Toorak Handicap (1600m) for the milers and the Caulfield Stakes (2000m) – currently run as the Might And Power – that has produced a number of Cox Plate winners in recent years including Winx who did the double in 2016. Punters should also keep an eye on the Herbert Power Stakes results ahead of the following weekend’s Caulfield Cup over the same track / distance.

Group 1 $3 million Caulfield Guineas (1600m)
Group 1 $1 million Caulfield Stakes (2000m) – run in 2024 as the Might And Power
Group 1 $1 million Toorak Handicap (1600m)
Group 2 $300,000 Schillaci Stakes (1100m)
Group 2 $300,000 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m)
Group 3 $200,000 Ladies’ Day Vase (1600m)
Group 3 $200,000 Northwood Plume Stakes (1200m)

2024 COONGY CUP DAY

Wednesday, October 16, 2024 – Caulfield Racecourse

Stayers get a final shot to make the Caulfield Cup field with the Coongy Cup held a few days before the mile and a half classic as the feature Group 3 race on a mid-week Wednesday meeting at Caulfield.

Group 3 $200,000 Coongy Cup (2000m)

2024 CAULFIELD CUP DAY

Saturday, October 19, 2024 – Caulfield Racecourse

One of the most anticipated races of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival takes place on a Saturday in late October with the country’s best stayers, and often international contenders, do battle in the first of the two Spring Cups – the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m). Caulfield Cup Day also features a host of other Group status races that serve as good lead-ups to the Melbourne Cup Carnival events.

Group 1 $5 million Caulfield Cup (2400m)
Group 2 $300,000 Caulfield Sprint (1000m)
Group 2 $300,000 Tristarc Stakes (1400m)
Group 3 $300,000 Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m)
Group 3 $200,000 Caulfield Classic (2000m)
Group 3 $200,000 Moonga Stakes (1400m)
Group 3 $200,000 Ethereal Stakes (2000m)

2024 GEELONG CUP DAY

Wednesday, October 23, 2024 – Geelong Racecourse

While not holding the same prestigious as the Group 1 race meetings of the spring Geelong Cup Day is huge event and keen punters always keep an eye on the results of the day’s feature – the Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m) – as a guide to the Melbourne Cup. The Geelong Cup field often features a strong international presence too as raiders prepare for their Melbourne Cup bids and French visitors Americain (2010) and Dunaden (2011) both completed the Geelong Cup – Melbourne Cup double.

Group 3 $500,000 Geelong Cup (2400m)
Listed $200,000 Geelong Classic (2200m)

2024 LADBROKES MOONEE VALLEY GOLD CUP NIGHT

Friday, October 25, 2024 – Moonee Valley Racecourse

The Moonee Valley Gold Cup is now the feature race meeting at The Valley’s late-October Friday night twilight meeting on Cox Plate Eve with a field of potential Melbourne Cup horses facing off in the evening’s main Group 2 event.

Group 2 $750,000 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m)

2024 LADBROKES COX PLATE DAY

Saturday, October 26, 2024 – Moonee Valley Racecourse

The second of the Melbourne Spring Majors, the W.S. Cox Plate (2040m) headlines the racing action at Moonee Valley and is traditionally held on the last Saturday of October. The Cox Plate is the Australasian weight-for-age championship and has been won by a host of memorable thoroughbred horses including Super Impose (1992), Sunline (1999-2000), triple Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva (2005), So You Think (2009-10) and most recently the historic four-time champion Winx (2015-18).

Group 1 $5 million Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m)
Group 2 $400,000 Moonee Valley Vase (2040m)
Group 2 $300,000 Moonee Valley Fillies Classic (1600m)
Group 2 $300,000 Crystal Mile (1600m)
Group 3 $200,000 JRA Cup (2040m)
Group 3 $200,000 Tesio Stakes (1600m)
Group 3 $200,000 Red Anchor Stakes (1200m)

2024 BENDIGO CUP DAY

Wednesday, October 30, 2024 – Bendigo Racecourse

One of the final chances for stayers to make the coveted 24-horse Melbourne Cup field takes place on the Wednesday prior to Derby Day with the Bendigo Cup attracting a quality line-up of spring stayers from both locally and abroad.

Group 3 $500,000 Bendigo Cup (2400m)

Melbourne Cup Carnival

2024 VICTORIA DERBY DAY

Saturday, November 2, 2024 – Flemington Racecourse

Held on the Saturday before Melbourne Cup Day, Victoria Derby Day opens the Melbourne Cup Carnival action and is a day for racing purists. All events on the card hold Group status including a bumper three Group 1 races making for a top day on the punt. The top staying three-year-olds face off in the Group 1 $2 million Victoria Derby (2500m), while the best young sprinters go down the ‘Straight Six’ in the Group 1 $2 million Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m). The other feature on the card is the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) for fillies and mares.

Group 1 $2 million Victoria Derby (2500m)
Group 1 $2 million Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m)
Group 1 $1 million Empire Rose Stakes (1600m)
Group 2 $300,000 Wakeful Stakes (2000m)
Group 2 $300,000 Linlithgow Stakes (1200m) – formerly the Salinger Stakes
Group 3 $200,000 Begonia Belle Stakes (1100m) – run as the Furphy Sprint
Group 3 $500,000 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m)
Group 3 $200,000 Rising Fast Stakes (1200m) – formerly the Chatham Stakes over 1400m

2024 MELBOURNE CUP DAY

Tuesday, November 5, 2024 – Flemington Racecourse

The race that fans around the country and abroad count down to each spring, Melbourne Cup Day runs on the first Tuesday of November annually and features the world’s richest handicap race – the Group 1 $8.4 million Melbourne Cup (3200m). Contested over the two miles, the Melbourne Cup field attracts a capacity line-up of 24 local and international stayers and stops the nation for around three minutes. Having a bet on the Melbourne Cup is an Aussie tradition and Melbourne Cup betting is open all year round on the possible runners. Many turf greats have taken out the ‘Loving Trophy’ including in recent times three-time champion Makybe Diva (2003-05) and Fiorente (2013) who was the last Melbourne Cup favourite to salute for the punters.

Group 1 $8.4 million Melbourne Cup (3200m)
Group 3 $200,000 Maribyrnong Plate (1000m)
Group 3 $200,000 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1400m)

2024 VRC OAKS DAY

Thursday, November 7, 2024 – Flemington Racecourse

Contested on the Thursday after Melbourne Cup Day, VRC Oaks Day is known as ‘Ladies Day’ and is headlined by the three-year-old fillies facing off in the Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m). Plenty of VRC Oaks winners go on to enjoy plenty more Group 1 success later in their racing careers including the 2015 champion Jameka who won the following year’s Caulfield Cup as a four-year-old mare.

Group 1 $1 million VRC Oaks (2500m)
Group 3 $200,000 Ottawa Stakes (1000m)
Group 3 $300,000 Red Roses Stakes (1100m)

2024 VRC CHAMPIONS STAKES DAY

Saturday, November 9, 2024 – Flemington Racecourse

Mackinnon Stakes Day – renamed VRC Champions Stakes Day in 2022 – closes the four-day Melbourne Cup Carnival and punters are treated to a triple shot of Group 1 racing and betting action. The season’s best sprinters running in the Group 1 Champions Sprint (1200m) – formerly run as the VRC Sprint Classic – while the middle-distance gallopers may back-up off a Cox Plate run to contest the Group 1 Champions Stakes (2000m). The Champions Stakes was renamed from the Mackinnon Stakes in 2022 and is now worth $3 million in a bid to keep the international runners in Melbourne a little longer. In a further change to the Melbourne Cup Carnival schedule in 2022, the race formerly known as the Cantala Stakes – the Champions Mile – has moved from VRC Derby Day to further add to the Champions Stakes Day card on the Saturday.

Group 1 $3 million Champion Stakes (2000m) – formerly the Mackinnon Stakes
Group 1 $3 million Champions Sprint (1200m) – formerly the VRC Sprint Classic
Group 1 $3 million Champions Mile (1600m) – Formerly the Cantala Stakes
Group 2 $300,000 Matriarch Stakes (2000m)
Group 3 $300,000 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m)

2024 SIR RUPERT CLARKE STAKES DAY

Saturday, November 16, 2024 – Caulfield Racecourse

The Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes has moved until after the Melbourne Cup Carnival taking place at Caulfield in late November on the same day as the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) for three-year-old fillies which is now worth $1.5 million.

Group 1 $1,000,000 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m)
Group 1 $1,500,000 Thousand Guineas (1600m)
Group 3 $500,000 Blue Sapphire Stakes (1200m)
Group 3 $200,000 Thoroughbred Club Stakes (1200m)
Group 3 $200,000 How Now Stakes (1200m)

2024 ZIPPING CLASSIC DAY

Saturday, November 30, 2024 – Caulfield Racecourse

After the Melbourne Cup Carnival there’s still one final day of big spring racing with the action finishing up with Zipping Classic Day taking place at Caulfield Racecourse in late November in 2024. The day is headlined by the running of the Group 2 Zipping Classic (2400m) renamed in honour of the great horse Zipping who won the then Sandown Classic four years on the trot from 2007-10. Other prime betting opportunities exist a host of other Group status events including the Group 2 Sandown Guineas for the three-year-old milers.