There are many fantastic spots to check out Australian horseracing, from Doomben races and Eagle Farm in Brisbane to Sydney’s Racing Carnival, the Everest and Golden Slipper, the Melbourne Cup in (surprisingly) Melbourne, and Darwin races in the Northern Territory. With horseracing such a widespread and enjoyed sport in Australia, there are many great courses to choose from and here we will give you a few of our favourites!
Sydney
Sydney is widely considered the centre of horseracing, with its high prize races and great courses. Royal Randwick, Australia’s longest standing racing venue, hosts many top races and boasts world-class dining and spectacular views of both the race course and the Sydney skyline. The Everest, the richest horse race in the world with millions at stake, is run from here and has to top any list. Rosehill Gardens, meanwhile, hosts the famous Golden Slipper as well as the $7.5 million Iron Jack Golden Eagle. A must-visit sweeping course, Rosehill is a must-see for anyone looking to experience Australian horseracing.
Brisbane
Since the late-nineties Brisbane’s Eagle Farm and Doomben races have merged together to offer a wonderful and improved experience for those visiting the area. Many races are held including Magic Millions and Country finals and boasting over 150 years of horseracing, Eagle Farm brings together the historical with the modern for a great day out. With amazing new facilities and consistent quality racing, make sure to keep Brisbane in mind!
Darwin
Since 1956 the Great Northern Darwin Cup has been held at the Darwin Turf Club in Fannie Bay making it one of the newer spots to visit that we can recommend. However, it is now the biggest sporting event in the Northern Territories, and has more to offer than just the one race. With prizes of nearly $2million over the month-long event, great Darwin race tips and famous hospitality offered by the thousands of proud locals, and with 39 race days a year there is plenty going on in Darwin, and the picturesque dirt track racecourse is definitely worthy of a spot on this list.
Melbourne
The Melbourne Cup is another huge race, the most famous Australian race known all over the world and widely viewed throughout Australia, and it is held at the Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Victoria. It is known for being one of the richest turf races in the world, and the winner receives nearly $4.5million. With a pear shaped racecourse that has been around for 180 years, Flemington Racecourse has also undergone several upgrades in the last few years, with updated facilities, a $45million grandstand in 2000 and a new members’ grandstand in 2018, this historic racecourse is another top spot to check out Australian racing in style.
With a huge following and many passionate fans, horseracing in Australia continues to grow and remains a wonderful place to go and see some great venues, fantastic views and awesome races. From big and famous names offering large prizes like the Melbourne cup, the Everest and Golden Slipper through to fun day trips out for your very first race, and historic racecourses through to the more modern, there are so many wonderful spots to experience Australian horseracing today!