Horse Racing News
FLEMINGTON HORSE RACES
Every year a variety of quality horse races take place at Flemington on Australia’s oldest continuing metropolitan racecourse. The most famous of these, in fact the highlight of the Australian racing calendar, are the horse races that make up the annual Spring Racing Carnival in October and November. As a part of this carnival, the spectators and punters at Flemington are treated to an array of excellent Group races at the racecourse’s four-day meeting, the feature being the illustrious Melbourne Cup, held by the Victorian Racing Club (VRC). The Flemington horse races play a huge role in solidifying Melbourne as the sporting capital of Australia, and provide a generous amount of money for not only the city but the state of Victoria every year.
The most anticipated, vastly watched and highly bet on Flemington horse races are the major Group 1 runs that feature on the four race days. They are the Victoria Derby, the Melbourne Cup, the VRC Oaks and the VRC Stakes. It is the goal of owners, trainers and jockeys across the nation to compete, place and hopefully triumph in these celebrated races, and the high prize money and legendary status that accompanies a win in these runs is what draws a league of elite international competitors to the field as well.
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Below is a record of each of these prominent races, including the track distances, qualifications, inaugurations and recent winners.
Flemington Horse Races – The Victoria Derby:
The official opening to the Flemington Carnival, this race is held on Victoria Derby Day. This is the meeting’s biggest day of racing, and Australia’s only all race Group status day. The Victoria Derby is the feature Group 1 race of the day, run over 2500 metres by three year olds at set weights. Keenly watched by punters, the Victoria Derby has in the past presented a number of future Melbourne Cup winners. First run in 1855, the Victoria Derby is the longest running classic horse race in Australia. The track record for the Victoria Derby was set in 1991 by Star Of The Real who won with a time of 2:33.50.
Recent winners of the Victoria Derby:
Year Winner Time
2008 Rebel Raider 2:36.9
2007 Kibbutz 2:40.92
2006 Efficient 2:38.35
2005 Benicio 2:37.08
2004 Plastered 2:35.49
2003 Elvstroem 2:38.99
2002 Helenus 2:40.54
2001 Amalfi 2:34.63
2000 Hit The Roof 2:39.02
This year’s AAMI Victoria Derby will be held on Saturday 31st October 2009.
Flemington Horse Races – The Melbourne Cup:
Cup day, the first Tuesday of every November, is a public holiday for the state of Victoria, proving just how important and widely established the Melbourne Cup race is. Since its inauguration in 1861, the Melbourne Cup has seen a succession of champions emerge as the greats of Australian horseracing gallop down the 3200 metre track in a display of endurance and racing aptitude every year. The Melbourne Cup, for three year olds and over, is the richest horse race in Australia, and the wealthiest handicap race in the world. The track record was set by Kingston Rule in 1990 with a time of 3:16.3.
Recent winners of the Melbourne Cup:
Year Winner Time
2008 Viewed 3:20.40
2007 Efficient 3:23.34
2006 Delta Blues 3:21.42
2005 Makybe Diva 3:19.79
2004 Makybe Diva 3:28.55
2003 Makybe Diva 3:19.9
2002 Media Puzzle 3:16.97
2001 Ethereal 3:21.08
2000 Brew 3:18.68
This year’s 2009 Emirates Melbourne Cup will be held on Tuesday 3rd November.
Flemington Horse Races – The VRC Oaks:
The VRC Oaks is held on Crown Oaks day, known as ‘ladies day’ because of the Fashions on the Field competition that also dominates the day’s festivities. A race for three year old fillies run over 2500 metres, the VRC Oaks is a distance race for stayers and is a very competitive run with quality types collecting the most victories.
This year’s VRC Oaks will be held on Thursday 5th November 2009.
Recent winners of the VRC Oaks:
Year Winner Time
2008 Samantha Miss 2:37.57
2007 Arapaho Miss 2:36.85
2006 Miss Finland 2:37.16
2005 Serenade Rose 2:36.35
2004 Hollow Bullet 2:41.28
2003 Special Harmony 2:39.04
2002 Bulla Borghese 2:36.31
2001 Magical Miss 2:34.77
2000 Lovelorn 2:35.38
Flemington Horse Races – The VRC Stakes:
Forming part of Stakes Day, the family orientated day of the carnival, the VRC Stakes sees a field of runners dash down the 1600 metre track under quality handicap conditions. This race, the richest of its distance in Victoria, also marks the end of the Spring Racing Carnival’s Group 1 racing.
This year’s VRC Stakes will be held on Saturday 7th November 2009.
Recent Winners of the VRC Stakes:
Year Winner Time
2008 All Silent 1:35.8
2007 Tears I Cry 1:35.8
2006 Divine Madonna 1:35.5
2005 Valedictum 1:34.9
2004 Sky Cuddle 1:39.1
2003 Titanic Jack 1:34.7
2002 Scenic Peak 1:33.4
2001 Desert Eagle 1:37.3
2000 Testa Rossa 1:35.5
