Australian horse racing events

Australia’s racing calendar is built around a handful of events that define the season. These are the races that attract the biggest fields, the most international competition and, for punters, the greatest opportunity to find value in a wide-open market.

We publish dedicated tips, form guides and betting guides for each major event below. Pages are updated seasonally as fields are announced, barriers drawn and markets open.

Spring Carnival

The Spring Carnival runs from September through November and is the centrepiece of the Australian racing year. Victoria hosts the headline events, with Flemington and Caulfield at the centre of proceedings.

  • Melbourne Cup (Coming Soon)

    The race that stops a nation. Run over 3,200m at Flemington on the first Tuesday in November, the Melbourne Cup is the richest handicap race in the Southern Hemisphere and attracts international stayers from Europe and beyond. Our guide covers the field, form, tips and how to bet.

  • Cox Plate (guide coming soon)

    Run at Moonee Valley in late October, the Cox Plate is Australia’s weight-for-age championship and the race most serious punters consider the true test of a champion. 2,040m on a tight circuit — barriers and tempo are everything.

  • Caulfield Cup (guide coming soon)

    A 2,400m handicap at Caulfield in mid-October, the Caulfield Cup is a key Melbourne Cup lead-up and produces its own betting market worth taking seriously in its own right.

  • Golden Eagle (guide coming soon)

    Run at Rosehill in early November, the Golden Eagle is a $7.5 million race restricted to four-year-olds. A relatively new race but already one of the most valuable in the country.

Autumn carnival

The Autumn Carnival runs February through April across Sydney and Brisbane. The headline races are in Sydney, anchored by The Championships at Royal Randwick.

  • The Championships (guide coming soon)

    Two days of elite racing at Randwick in April, featuring the Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Doncaster Mile. One of the richest race days in Australia.

All year round

Beyond the carnivals, major races run throughout the year. We'll be adding guides for key races as the season progresses.

For daily tips on regular meetings, head to our racing tips page. If you’re looking to understand how to bet on big race days, the guides section has everything you need