October 1 – October 1
The Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival is undoubtably the highlight of the racing year in Australia and it brings out the very best of Australian and International thoroughbreds for 50 days of world-class horse racing action. The whole event has a carnival like atmosphere which brings the city of Melbourne to life during spring carnival time.
The major racing carnival during the spring is the four-day Melbourne Cup Carnival held at Flemington in early November, home to Melbourne Cup Day, while the three-day Caulfield Cup carnival held at Caulfield in October is also an exciting affair for racing enthusiasts.
Other feature race days during spring include WS Cox Plate day at Moonee Valley in late October, and Sandown Classic day at Sandown in November, one week after the Flemington carnival ends on Emirates Stakes day.
Weight-for-age group racing in August kicks off the new stakes racing season in Melbourne each year and the Aurie’s Star Handicap is the first group race of the new season.
Group One racing finally kicks off in mid September with the running of the Underwood Stakes at Caulfield racecourse. A number of high quality feature races are then held each week before we get to the important Caulfield and Flemington racing carnivals in late October and early November.
The Caulfield Cup is the second of the big spring cups and it is a tough Group One handicap event over 2400m that takes place around mid October and forms part of big feature spring cups betting double with the Melbourne Cup.
Moonee Valley racecourse is host to the Group One WS Cox Plate over 2040m in October and it’s widely recognised as the weight-for-age championship of Australasia.
The jewel in the crown of the spring racing carnival is Australia’s most famous race, the time honoured Melbourne Cup, which is always run on the first Tuesday in November over a distance of 3200m (2 miles) at Flemington racecourse in Melbourne.
2013 Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival Guide
| Saturday 27th July 2013 – Caulfield – Bletchingly Stakes Day | ||||
| Status | Race Name | Prizemoney | Distance | Race Type |
| Gr 3 | Bletchingly Stakes | $150,000 | 1200m | Weight-for-age |
| Saturday 10th August 2013 – Flemington – Aurie’s Star Handicap Day | ||||
| Status | Race Name | Prizemoney | Distance | Race Type |
| Gr 3 | Aurie’s Star Handicap | $150,000 | 1200m | Open Handicap |
| Saturday 17th August 2013 – Caulfield – JJ Liston Stakes Day | ||||
| Status | Race Name | Prizemoney | Distance | Race Type |
| Gr 2 | JJ Liston Stakes | $220,000 | 1400m | Weight-for-age |
| Gr 3 | Cockram Stakes | $150,000 | 1200m | Mares SW+Pen |
| Gr 3 | Quezette Stakes | $135,000 | 1100m | 3yoF SW+Pen |
| Gr 3 | Vain Stakes | $135,000 | 1100m | 3yo C&G SW+Pen |
| Saturday 31st August 2013 – Caulfield – Memsie Stakes Day | ||||
| Status | Race Name | Prizemoney | Distance | Race Type |
| Gr 1 | Memsie Stakes | $350,000 | 1400m | Weight-for-age |
| Gr 3 | H.D.F. McNeil Stakes | $150,000 | 1200m | 3yo SW+Pen |
| Gr 3 | The Heath 1100 | $135,000 | 1100m | 4yo & Up SW+Pen |
| Saturday 7th September 2013 – Flemington – Makybe Diva Stakes Day | ||||
| Status | Race Name | Prizemoney | Distance | Race Type |
| Gr 1 | Makybe Diva Stakes | $300,000 | 1600m | Weight-for-age |
| Gr 2 | Danehill Stakes | $220,000 | 1200m | 3yo SW+Pen |
| Gr 2 | Lets Elope Stakes | $220,000 | 1400m | Mares SW+Pen |
| Gr 3 | Bobbie Lewis Quality | $150,000 | 1200m | Quality Hcp |
| Saturday 14th September 2013 – Moonee Valley – Chin Nam Stakes Day | ||||
| Status | Race Name | Prizemoney | Distance | Race Type |
| Gr 2 | Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes | $300,000 | 1600m | Weight-for-age |
| Gr 2 | WH Stocks Stakes | $220,000 | 1600m | 4yo+ Mares WFA |
| Gr 2 | McEwen Stakes | $150,000 | 1000m | Weight-for-age |
| Saturday 21st September 2013 – Caulfield – Underwood Stakes Day | ||||
| Status | Race Name | Prizemoney | Distance | Race Type |
| Gr 1 | Underwood Stakes | $400,000 | 1800m | Weight-for-age |
| Gr 2 | Thousand Guineas Prelude | $175,000 | 1400m | 3yoF SW+Pen |
| Gr 3 | How Now Stakes | $150,000 | 1200m | Mares SW+Pen |
| Gr 3 | Naturalism Stakes | $150,000 | 2000m | Open Hcp |
| Friday Night 27th September 2013 – Moonee Valley – AJ Moir Stakes Night | ||||
| Status | Race Name | Prizemoney | Distance | Race Type |
| Gr 1 | AJ Moir Stakes | $300,000 | 1200m | Weight-for-age |
| Gr 2 | Stutt Stakes | $220,000 | 1600m | 3yo Open SW |
| Gr 3 | JRA Cup | $200,000 | 2040m | Open Hcp |
| Gr 3 | Champagne Stakes | $150,000 | 1200m | 3yoF SW |
| Sunday 29th September 2013 – Caulfield – Rupert Clarke Stakes Day | ||||
| Gr 1 | Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes | $400,000 | 1400m | Open Hcp |
| Gr 3 | Caulfield Guineas Prelude | $175,000 | 1400m | 3yoC&G SW+Pen |
| Saturday 5th October 2013 – Flemington – Turnbull Stakes Day | ||||
| Status | Race Name | Prizemoney | Distance | Race Type |
| Gr 1 | Turnbull Stakes | $500,000 | 2000m | 4yo&Up SW+Pen |
| Gr 2 | Edward Manifold Stakes | $220,000 | 1600m | 3yoF SW |
| Gr 2 | Gilgai Stakes | $220,000 | 1200m | 3yo&Up SW+Pen |
| Gr 2 | Blazer Stakes | $220,000 | 1400m | Mares SW+Pen |
| Saturday 12th October 2013 – Caulfield – Caulfield Guineas Day | ||||
| Status | Race Name | Prizemoney | Distance | Race Type |
| Gr 1 | Caulfield Guineas | $1,000,000 | 1600m | 3yo Open SW |
| Gr 1 | Caulfield Stakes | $400,000 | 2000m | Weight-for-age |
| Gr 1 | Toorak Handicap | $400,000 | 1600m | Open Hcp |
| Gr 2 | Herbert Power Stakes | $220,000 | 2400m | Quality Hcp |
| Gr 2 | Schillaci Stakes | $220,000 | 1000m | Weight-for-age |
| Gr 3 | Thoroughbred Club Stakes | $150,000 | 1200m | 3yoF SW+Pen |
| Gr 3 | Northwood Plume Stakes | $120,000 | 1200m | Mares SW+Pen |
| Sunday 13th October 2013 – Cranbourne Cup Day | ||||
| Status | Race Name | Prizemoney | Distance | Race Type |
| LR | Cranbourne Cup | $200,000 | 2025m | Open Hcp |
| Wednesday 16th October 2013 – Caulfield – Thousand Guineas Day | ||||
| Status | Race Name | Prizemoney | Distance | Race Type |
| Gr 1 | Thousand Guineas | $500,000 | 1600m | 3yoF Open SW |
| Gr 3 | Ladies Day Vase | $120,000 | 1600m | Mares SW+Pen |
| Saturday 19th October 2013 – Caulfield – Caulfield Cup Day | ||||
| Status | Race Name | Prizemoney | Distance | Race Type |
| Gr 1 | Caulfield Cup | $2,500,000 | 2400m | Open Hcp |
| Gr 2 | Caulfield Sprint | $220,000 | 1100m | Open Hcp |
| Gr 2 | Tristarc Stakes | $220,000 | 1400m | 4yo Mares SW+Pen |
| Gr 3 | Norman Robinson Stakes | $150,000 | 2000m | 3yo Open SW |
| Gr 3 | David Jones Cup | $150,000 | 2000m | Open Hcp |
| Gr 3 | Moonga Stakes | $150,000 | 1400m | 4yo&Up SW+Pen |
| Sunday 20th October 2013 – Seymour Cup Day | ||||
| Status | Race Name | Prizemoney | Distance | Race Type |
| LR | Seymour Cup | $150,000 | 1600m | Open Hcp |
| Wednesday 21st October 2013 – Geelong Cup Day | ||||
| Status | Race Name | Prizemoney | Distance | Race Type |
| Gr 3 | Geelong Cup | $300,000 | 2400m | Open Hcp |
| Friday 25th October 2013 – Manikato Stakes Night | ||||
| Status | Race Name | Prizemoney | Distance | Race Type |
| Gr 1 | Manikato Stakes | $750,000 | 1200m | Weight-for-age |
| Gr 2 | Moonee Valley Fillies Classic | $220,000 | 1600m | 3yo Fillies |
| Saturday 26th October 2013 – Moonee Valley – WS Cox Plate Day | ||||
| Status | Race Name | Prizemoney | Distance | Race Type |
| Gr 1 | WS Cox Plate | $3,000,000 | 2040m | Weight-for-age |
| Gr 2 | Moonee Valley Cup | $250,000 | 2500m | 4yo&Up SW+Pen |
| Gr 2 | Crystal Mile | $220,000 | 1600m | WFA |
| Gr 2 | AAMI Vase | $220,000 | 2040m | 3yo SW |
| Gr 3 | Inglis Mile | $150,000 | 1600m | 4yo&Up Mares Hcp |
| Gr 3 | Red Anchor Stakes | $150,000 | 1200m | 3yo Sw+Pen |
| Wednesday 30th October 2013 – Bendigo Cup Day | ||||
| Status | Race Name | Prizemoney | Distance | Race Type |
| LR | Bendigo Cup | $250,000 | 2400m | Open Hcp |
| Saturday 2nd November 2013 – Flemington – Victoria Derby Day | ||||
| Status | Race Name | Prizemoney | Distance | Race Type |
| Gr 1 | AAMI Victoria Derby | $1,500,000 | 2500m | 3yo SW |
| Gr 1 | Mackinnon Stakes | $1,000,000 | 2000m | Weight-for-age |
| Gr 1 | Coolmore Stud Stakes | $500,000 | 1200m | 3yo SW |
| Gr 1 | Myer Classic | $500,000 | 1600m | F&M WFA |
| Gr 2 | Wakeful Stakes | $250,000 | 2000m | 3yoF SW+Pen |
| Gr 2 | Salinger Stakes | $250,000 | 1200m | Open Hcp |
| Gr 3 | Carbine Club Stakes | $200,000 | 1600m | 3yo SW+Pen |
| Gr 3 | The Lexus Stakes | $200,000 | 2500m | Quality Hcp |
| Gr 3 | Chatham Stakes | $200,000 | 1400m | Open Hcp |
| Tuesday 5th November 2013 – Flemington – Melbourne Cup Day | ||||
| Status | Race Name | Prizemoney | Distance | Race Type |
| Gr 1 | Melbourne Cup | $6,175,000 | 3200m | 3yo+ Open Hcp |
| Gr 3 | Maybe Mahal Stakes | $200,000 | 1400m | Mares SW+Pen |
| Gr 3 | Ottawa Stakes | $100,000 | 1000m | 3yoF SW |
| Thursday 7th November 2013 – Flemington – Crown Oaks Day | ||||
| Status | Race Name | Prizemoney | Distance | Race Type |
| Gr 1 | Crown Oaks | $1,000,000 | 2500m | 3yoF SW |
| Gr 3 | Begonia Belle Stakes | $150,000 | 1100m | Mares SW+Pen |
| Saturday 9th November 2013 – Flemington – Emirates Stakes Day | ||||
| Status | Race Name | Prizemoney | Distance | Race Type |
| Gr 1 | Emirates Stakes | $1,000,000 | 1600m | Quality Hcp |
| Gr 1 | Patinack Farm Classic | $1,000,000 | 1200m | Weight-for-age |
| Gr 2 | Matriarch Stakes | $250,000 | 2000m | Mares SW+Pen |
| Gr 3 | Queen Elizabeth Stakes | $200,000 | 2500m | Quality Hcp |
| Gr 3 | Maribyrnong Plate | $150,000 | 1000m | 2yo SW |
| Saturday 16th November 2013 – Caulfield – Sandown Classic Day | ||||
| Status | Race Name | Prizemoney | Distance | Race Type |
| Gr 2 | Sandown Classic | $350,000 | 2400m | 2yo+ Open WFA |
| Gr 2 | Sandown Guineas | $350,000 | 1600m | 3yo SW |
| Gr 3 | Sandown Stakes | $150,000 | 1500m | Quality Hcp |
| Gr 3 | Eclipse Stakes | $150,000 | 1800m | Quality Hcp |
| Gr 3 | Kevin Heffernan Stakes | $120,000 | 1300m | Weight-for-age |
| Gr 3 | Summoned Stakes | $120,000 | 1500m | Mares SW+Pen |
| Sunday 24th November 2013 – Ballarat Cup Day | ||||
| Status | Race Name | Prizemoney | Distance | Race Type |
| LR | Ballarat Cup | $200,000 | 2200m | Open Hcp |
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