A symbol of belonging

The Victoria Racing Club was established on 9 March 1864, and with just 32 names recorded in its founding ledger, ‘keeping track’ of members was a simple matter. A printed list and a paper ticket were all that was required. But things moved quickly. Within the first year, membership had climbed above 300, and race days drew ever-larger crowds. A better system was needed to manage access to the course and members’ areas and visibly signal who belonged.

That led to the introduction of identifying badges, though the exact date they came into use is difficult to pin down. Committee records from October 1886 reference the idea, and by the time Bravo defeated Carbine to win the 1889 Melbourne Cup, medallions were certainly in circulation. One example from that season – modest and shield-shaped – includes all the essentials: the VRC monogram, the racing season, and a membership number engraved on the reverse. It was designed to be worn – easily attachable to a watch chain, buttonhole or binocular strap – and to be recognised.

For more than a century, members received a new medallion each season. The design was changed annually for security and ceremony, a visible marker of the new racing calendar. Over time, these medallions became cherished keepsakes, passed down through families or tucked into drawers alongside racing programs and old racebooks.

Today, many of these small but significant objects are preserved in the VRC’s Art & Heritage Collection, each unique to its year and member.

In the 1997–98 season, smartcards equipped with barcodes and digital functionality replaced the medallions. They were practical, but for many, something of the romance was lost. Still, the old medallions continue to surface in unexpected places – antique shops, desk drawers, and even forgotten corners of garden beds.

Now, in the digital age, access to the club has never been easier, with members able to enter and move around the course using their phones. But that impulse to honour identity and involvement continues to shape new initiatives.

Launched for the 2024/25 racing season, the VRC Full Member Tenure Recognition Program celebrates the dedication of Full, Pre79 and Life Members – many of whom have supported the club for decades. Developed in response to feedback from the 2023/24 Member Advisory Group, the program introduces milestone privileges for members marking their 10th, 20th, 30th, 40th or 50th anniversaries – from commemorative items to invitations to exclusive events.

Every Full Member – from one year to 50-plus – was recognised in the program’s inaugural roll-out this year. Those celebrating 30 years or more were invited to the first-ever Full Member Milestone Lunch, a three-course celebration in The Committee Room. With live entertainment and a room full of shared stories, it was a fitting tribute to those who have been part of the VRC journey through the seasons.

This builds on last year’s unveiling of the Melbourne Cup Honour Boards, which named every winning jockey, trainer, and owner since 1861, and the presentation of a ceremonial head collar to each year’s winning horse. All are part of a broader effort to honour those who help make Cup Day what it is.

In the same spirit, the VRC now grants honorary membership to Melbourne Cup–winning jockeys and trainers – a simple but significant gesture for those who’ve experienced racing’s greatest moment.

So, whether it’s a medallion or a card, a badge or a barcode, what matters most is the connection they represent. Symbols may change, but the sentiment endures.