Caulfield Racecourse is situated just a few miles outside Melbourne city centre, with this being the headquarters of Melbourne Racing Club. Unusually, the track is shaped in a triangle and that means there are three different straights. Depending on the race, the heat could finish on any of these straights although the distance of the complete track is around 1.30 miles.
This is one of the most popular Australian racecourses when it comes to the number of meetings, with around 20 taking place during the course of a calendar year and you can access a racecard for all of the meetings. The Caulfield Cup, Caulfield Guineas, Blue Diamond Stakes, C F Orr Stakes, Oakleigh Plate, Underwood Stakes and Futurity Stakes are just some of the high-profile races which take place.
Bet on the Big Money Caulfield Cup
If Caulfield had a UK racecourse equivalent, it would probably be Goodwood or Ascot and the jewel in the crown is the Caulfield Cup, with this being Melbourne Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race held under handicap conditions. The race itself takes place over 2,400 metres and any horse aged three or older can line up and hope for a shot at glory.
This race isn’t far behind the unique Melbourne Cup in terms of prestige and that is reflected in the $5 million purse that is available, with the winner actually getting an automatic entre into the big race of Australia without having to go through the ballot.
This Caulfield Cup race forms part of the Melbourne Racing Club Spring Carnival, with this event taking place on the third day of the meeting in October and it’s generally around two weeks before we get the Melbourne Cup, with the field limited to eighteen starters.
Enjoy Caulfield Guineas at the Spring Carnival
Another Group 1 encounter that forms part of the same meeting is the Caulfield Guineas and this is a three-year-old race where the prize money is massive. There is currently a purse of $2 million for the latest renewals, with the race having been taking place since 1881.
The Caulfield Guineas is the highlight race on Guineas Day, which is the first day of the three-day Melbourne Racing Club Spring Carnival, with the G1 Toorak Handicap, G1 Caulfield Stakes and the fillies equivalent, the G1 The Thousand Guineas also featuring on this prestigious card.
Enjoy Other Big Races at Caulfield Racecourse
The Blue Diamond Stakes is another highlight race which takes place at this track, with this being regarded as Victoria’s richest two-year-old race, with the action taking place at 1,200 metres. The prize money generally stands at around $1,500,000, with the CF Orr Stakes also capturing the imagination of the Aussie racing public and that’s a race that takes place over 1,400 metres and this was inaugurated in 1925.
The Oakleigh Plate, Underwood Stakes and Futurity Stakes are some of the other races that are highlight affairs at this racecourse, with twelve Group 1 races being run altogether and there are several Group 2 and Group 3 races that also take place during the course of the year.