Victoria Racing Club - Definition and Overview

The Victoria Racing Club, formed in 1861, is one of Australia’s premier Thoroughbred Racing Organisations. The present club was formed in 1864 as a result of a merger with the Victoria Turf Club, and since 1871 has operated the majority of their race meetings at Flemington Racecourse. A VRC membership is a symbol of social prestige, and Flemington is regraded as one of the greatest racecourses in the world. This is a result of the 1850’s gold rush in Victoria that brought an influx of people and wealth into racing. On the first Tuesday of November, the club hosts Australia’s richest horse race, the Melbourne Cup, which was fist held in 1861. Many world-famous racehorses have won the cup, such as Carbine (1890) and Phar Lap (1930). In addition to the Melbourne Cup Day, the club also hosts a carnival, which consists of the Victoria Derby on the Thursday before the Cup, an Oaks race (Ladies’ Day) on the Thursday following the Cup, and a Stakes Day on the Saturday. Other races held at the club include the Australian Cup and the Lightning Stakes held in autumn.

See also: Australian horse-racing, Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival, Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival