One of the biggest sporting events in Melbourne is the annual Spring Racing Carnival which is held during late October to mid November (the spring time). In Australia, the cricket and tennis are the most popular sports during the summer, whilst the Australian football and rugby are the most popular sports during the winter. However in the autumn and spring it is racing season and almost everybody comes out in celebration.
Whilst there are many carnivals held at different racecourse around the city of Melbourne (Caufield Carnival, Flemington Carnival, Sandown Carnival, Moonee Valley Carnival, Geelong Carnival), the most famous and popular carnival is the Flemington Carnival and attracts the most attention from the media and the wider community. It spans across four days starting on Saturday and includes the four following events.
Flemington Carnival (Spring Racing Carnival)
- 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 Victoria, 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 VRC Stakes day is held on the Saturday following the Oaks, and traditionally it has been known as ‘family day’.
Out of all of the four events, the Victorian Derby is known to be the classiest. It is held annually on the first day of Melbourne’s annual Spring Racing Carnival and marks the beginning of Melbourne Cup Week. The total prize money for the race is A$1,500,000 and $10,000 trophy.
Whilst the major focus of Victoria Derby Day is the stars of the turf (since it is the only race day in Australia where each and every race has Group Status), in recent years the annual ‘Fashions on the Field’ celebrations have shared the limelight. ‘Derby Day’ is traditionally a ‘Men’s day’ in the Fashion Stakes, and every year increasing numbers of fashionable gentlemen competing for prizes and a spot in the social columns. Traditionally black and white are worn on this day by women and morning suits by men. The flower of the day is a blue cornflower.
I had so much fun at this event, sipping on champagne and checking out all the other girls hats and dresses. I wore a black and white hat, a black and white scarf, a black dress and a black blazer. All the guys looked spiffy in their grey suits but I didn’t see many who wore the traditional blue cornflower which was unfortunate. If you’re ever in Melbourne during the spring this is a MUST-GO event with Derby Day being the event I recommend the most! You will have so much fun!
