Racing purists enjoy Victoria Derby Day because of it's all Group status racing line-up
The annual Melbourne Cup Carnival always kicks off with one of Australia’s elite days of racing, the AAMI Victoria Derby Day at Flemington racecourse.
Taking place on the Saturday before the Melbourne Cup, Victoria Derby Day features a brilliant line-up of quality races and is Australia’s only all-Group race meeting.
Known as ‘a day for racing purists’, Derby Day is famous world-wide for being one of the most entertaining and intense days of thoroughbred racing.
The headline race is the $1.5 million Group 1 AAMI Victoria Derby, which is a testing 2500m race for three-year-olds at set weights.
Other highlights include the three other Group 1 races that accompany the Victoria Derby, the $1 million Mackinnon Stakes (2000m), the $500,000 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) for three-year-olds, and the $500,000 Group 1 MYER Classic (1600m) for fillies and mares.
Victoria Derby Day Fast Facts
- When: Saturday before Melbourne Cup Day in late October or early November
- Where: Flemington Racecourse
- Feature Race: $1.5 million Group 1 AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m)
Other Group Races
| Prizemoney | Status | Race Name | Distance | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $250,000 | Group 3 | Inglis Carbine Club Stakes | 1600m | 3YO SW+P |
| $250,000 | Group 3 | The Lexus Stakes | 2500m | Qlty Hcp |
| $300,000 | Group 2 | Longines Wakeful Stakes | 2000m | 3YO F&M |
| $500,000 | Group 1 | Coolmore Stud Stakes | 1200m | 3YO SW |
| $1,000,000 | Group 1 | Mackinnon Stakes | 2000m | WFA |
| $500,000 | Group 1 | MYER Classic | 1600m | F&M WFA |
| $300,000 | Group 2 | Seppelt Salinger Stakes | 1200m | Hcp |
| $250,000 | Group 3 | Chatham Stakes | 1400m | Hcp |