Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival
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The Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival is the name of a Melbourne, Australia Thoroughbred horse racing series held annually during October and November (spring).
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[edit] The Carnival and its status in the wider community
Although racing in Australia is held every day except Good Friday and Christmas Day, the Group One races in Melbourne are held almost exclusively throughout the carnival, which is conveniently placed between the football and cricket seasons. During the winter (where football is dominant), and summer (where cricket is dominant), racing takes a 'back seat' position in relation to the cricket or football in terms of media coverage and attendances. However, in spring and autumn, the mass media turns its attention to the racing. There is also a Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival, a time where Group One races are also held.
[edit] Attendance
- 2006 - Melbourne Cup Carnival (418,049 - Derby Day 129,069; Cup Day 106,691; Crown Oaks 104,131; Emirates Stakes - 78,151) [1], Caulfield Cup (47,551)[2], Cox Plate (34,256)[3]
- 2005 - 730,110 - Melbourne Cup Carnival (383,785), Caulfield Cup (93,825), Cox Plate (44,189) [4]
[edit] Sweeps
The carnival, and particularly the Melbourne Cup attracts the interest of many people otherwise uninterested in horse racing, and special forms of very low-stake gambling are often used for this event. One common form for groups such as office staff is the "sweep", where each participant adds a small fee to a "pot" and draws the name of a horse like a raffle. Prize money is distributed to the person who draws the winning horse (occasionally smaller prizes are awarded to placegetters and the last-placing horse). A more complex and high-stakes form of the sweep is the "Calcutta", often held as a fundraising event for community organisations, which begins as in the sweep (though usually with a much higher initial stake), but which allows ticket holders to trade their tickets through an auction system.
[edit] Special Guests
For the fashion part of the Spring Racing Carnival many special judges have come to the races. 2003: Paris Hilton 2004: Carson Kressley 2005: Eva Longoria 2006: Andrea Bowen 2007: Carson Kressley
[edit] Carnival Race Meetings
The Spring Carnival is made up of meetings held by the metropolitan clubs, where Group One races take place, and also the country clubs, which hold their own Cup meetings. Also, there is a 'breakfast with the stars' that is held at various tracks, where racing fans can see their favourite horses perform track work.
[edit] Caulfield Carnival
The Melbourne Racing Club holds three race meetings at Caulfield Racecourse, each with major Group one races.
- The Caulfield Guineas is held on the Saturday three weeks before the Victoria Derby. The guineas are a set-weights race for three year-olds. Other group one races are held on this day.
- The Caulfield Thousand Guineas for three-year-old fillies is held on the Wednesday following the Saturday Caulfield Guineas.
- The Caulfield Cup is held on the Saturday on the weekend following the Guineas meeting.
[edit] Moonee Valley Carnival
The Moonee Valley Racing Club is famous for its Weight for Age Cox Plate race, the meeting which is held on the Saturday following the Caulfield Cup. There is also a mid-week race meeting which is held by the club, either the week before or the week following the Plate weekend.
[edit] Flemington Spring Carnival
The Victoria Racing Club's meetings attract the most attention from the media and the wider community.
- The Victoria Derby is held on the Saturday before the Melbourne Cup. It is a set-weights race for three-year-old horses. There are also other major races held on this day as well, making it the biggest day in racing.
- The Melbourne Cup handicap race is held on the first Tuesday in November, and is a public holiday in Melbourne, but the Cup is witnessed by those all around Australia as well as internationally.
- The VRC Oaks race is held on the Thursday following the Cup. It is a three-year-old fillies race, and traditionally it has been known as 'ladies' day'.
- The Stakes is held on the Saturday following the Oaks, and traditionally it has been known as 'family day'.
[edit] Sandown Spring Carnival
The Melbourne Racing Club holds the final two spring meetings at Sandown Park Racecourse. These two days include the Group 2 Sandown Classic and Guineas and the Group 3 Sandown Stakes. These events occur mid November.
