We celebrate the arrival of Spring Racing at Flemington with thrilling Group 1 racing, fun, fashion, and entertainment.
Get ready for an unforgettable day of excitement, elegance, and exhilarating group races. Whether you're a passionate racing fan, a style enthusiast, or just seeking a delightful day out with friends and family, Flemington will offer something for everyone.
A quality ten-race program will feature eight stakes races, headlined by the $750,000 Group 1 Crown Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m).
Off the track, there are plenty of family-friendly activities all conveniently located on the Front Lawn.
Saturday 13 September, 2025
Gates open: 11:00am
First race: 12:10 pm*
Last race: 5:25 pm*
*Race times and race order are subject to change
Feature races
Group 1 Crown Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m)
Group 3 Lexus Archer Stakes (2500m)*
*The winner of this race will receive a Golden Ticket into the 2025 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m)
The 2025 Fashions on the Field kicks off early with the Spring Best Dressed and Best Suited competitions on Crown Makybe Diva Stakes Day and TAB Turnbull Stakes Day, offering fast-track entry to the Crown Oaks Day Daily Final.
The competition returns to the front lawn for the Melbourne Cup Carnival, with the digital competition launching soon—start planning your boldest looks now.
From $260pp
Get ready for the Melbourne Cup Carnival and unleash your creativity with an inspiring millinery masterclass. Join renowned milliner, Rebecca Share for an intimate two-hour workshop, and create your own stunning millinery piece.
$30 PER PERSON
$60 PER FAMILY
Witness all the thrilling racing action up close from the famous Flemington Front Lawn or in one of the many bars and eateries across course.
TABLE OF 4 | $150
TABLE OF 6 | $210
Reserve your table for 4 or 6 on the Front Lawn and enjoy great racing with relaxed vibes, and a ‘bucket of drinks’ per table on arrival.
TABLE OF 6 | $210
Reserve your table of 6 on the Front Lawn and enjoy great racing with relaxed vibes, and a ‘bucket of drinks’ per table on arrival.
SOLD OUT
FREE-TO-BOOK
Offering sweeping views of the Flemington straight, Winning Post and city skyline, plus access to the popular VRC Punters Club, The Peak is the place to be for punting enthusiasts.
FROM $230pp
Enjoy a magical day of dining, racing and socialising in the comfort, warmth and conviviality of The Dining Room.
TICKETS SELLING FAST
FROM $285pp
Quite rightly known as the jewel in the crown of The Club Stand there is no dining experience quite like The Byerley.
SOLD OUT
FROM $100pp
Settle in for a day of delicious food and thrilling racing in the vibrant and contemporary setting that is Straight Six. Offering an authentic Italian inspired menu and an expansive drinks list featuring regional wines and premium local and international beers.
$65pp
Members have the option to bring friends and family to a race day by either purchasing a Members Enclosure Daily Guest Ticket or using their VRC Complimentary Guest Passes to redeem a complimentary Members Enclosure Daily Guest Ticket.
GRAZING from $285pp
DEGUSTATION from $390pp
Dine in style with stunning panoramic views over Flemington Racecourse, with your choice of dining experience.
$435pp
Welcome your guests into your own private suite with one of the best views at Flemington, located opposite the Winning Post.
SOLD OUT
PRE-PAID TABLE from $25pp
With its soaring views of the track below and its bright and airy design, The Atrium Trackside is the perfect spot to enjoy a day at Flemington.
PRE-PAID TABLE from $25pp
Serving up a casual and friendly atmosphere, the always popular Furlong Bar is the ideal place to immerse yourself in a day of racing action.
SOLD OUT
PRE-PAID TABLE from $25pp
With its soaring views of the track below and its bright and airy design, The Atrium Trackside is the perfect spot to enjoy a day at Flemington.
Flemington is all about fashion, so we’re offering complimentary 10-minute hair and make-up touch-ups at the Pamper Lounge in The Atrium of the Grandstand to keep you looking fabulous all day.
Discover stunning millinery, stylish accessories and tailored suit jackets from some of Melbourne’s top designers – with the option for a suit fitting just in time for the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Enjoy a one-of-a-kind race day experience with live fashion illustrators, capturing your look in a beautifully personalised keepsake to treasure long after the celebrations.
Families can soak up the sunshine on the Members Lawn with vibrant face painting and classic lawn games—guaranteed to keep little ones smiling and everyone entertained all day long.
Complimentary with your race day ticket, a day at Flemington is fun for even the youngest racegoers. Located on the Front Lawn East, pint sized punters can enjoy pony rides, face-painting and lawn games.
Prizemoney: $750,000
Weight-For-Age. Apprentices cannot claim.
Race first run: Saturday, 18th September, 1948
78th of Series
MAKYBE DIVA (GB) (Desert King (IRE) – Tugela (USA))
The historic weight-for-age Craiglee Stakes was renamed the Makybe Diva Stakes in 2007 to honour one of the greatest race mares to have graced the Australian turf. She is the only horse to have won three Melbourne Cups, which she did in succession in 2003 (trained by David Hall), in 2004 and 2005 (trained by Lee Freedman), ridden each time by Glen Boss. Her 15 career wins include a Sydney Cup, Australian Cup, Turnbull Stakes and WS Cox Plate. Twice Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year, she is a Legend in the Australian Racing Hall of Fame.
Prizemoney: $300,000
Mares Set Weights plus Penalties. Apprentices cannot claim.
Registered name: Milady Stakes
40th of Series
LET’S ELOPE (NZ) (Nassipour (USA) – Sharon Jane (NZ))
Let’s Elope in 1991 became the second mare to win the Caulfield and Melbourne Cup double. New Zealand bred, she gave Bart Cummings his ninth (of twelve) Melbourne Cup successes as trainer. She won 11 races including seven successive Group races in Melbourne in the 1991/92 racing season concluding with the 1992 Australian Cup in record time. Her later career took her to the USA where she was placed three times in Grade 1 events She returned to stud in Victoria, producing multiple Group 1 placegetter, Ustinov, and 2014 Adelaide Cup winner, Outback Joe.
Prizemoney: $300,000
4YO & Upwards Quality Handicap. Apprentices cannot claim.
52nd of Series
BOBBIE LEWIS (1878–1947)
Robert (Bob or Bobbie) Lewis was the first jockey to win four Melbourne Cups, a record matched only in the 1970s by Harry White. His long riding career extended for 46 years from his first race in 1892, at Clunes, Victoria, to 1936. His Cup winners were The Victory (1902), Patrobas (1915), Artilleryman (1919) and Trivalve (1927). He had 33 rides in the Cup, scoring five additional minor placings including on Phar Lap in 1929. He enjoyed a long, successful association with champion trainer James Scobie, winning the Victoria Derby eight times and the VRC Oaks seven times.
Prizemoney: $300,000
Quality Handicap. Apprentices cannot claim.
Registered name: Hotham Handicap
Golden Ticket Race: The winner of this race is exempt from ballot for the 2025 Lexus Melbourne Cup
157th of Series
ARCHER (William Tell (GB) – Maid Of The Oaks)
The Sydney champion racehorse Archer was where the Melbourne Cup story began. He came – by ship – from New South Wales to win both the first and the second Melbourne Cups, 1861 and 1862. Trained by Etienne de Mestre, ridden by John ‘Cutts’ Dillon, twice he beat the local hope, Mormon. Today’s race began its long history as the Hotham Handicap in 1869, named to honour Sir Charles Hotham (1806–1855), the controversial Governor of Victoria, in office at the time of the Eureka rebellion at Ballarat. The Hotham, now the Archer, has been a traditional lead-up race to the Melbourne Cup, furnishing many winners.
Prizemoney: $175,000
4YO & Upwards Handicap. Apprentices cannot claim.
TONTONAN (Showdown (GB) – Forego)
‘Tontonan’ means ‘Show’ in Indonesian. This champion was named as a foal by Indonesian President Suharto visiting the horse’s birthplace, VRC Committeeman Ken Cox’s Stockwell Stud, Victoria in 1972. At two, Tontonan won the Golden Slipper and AJC Sires’ Produce. At three he won the Oakleigh Plate (Caulfield), Ajax Stakes, Doncaster Handicap and All Aged Stakes (Sydney), and Delaney Quality (Eagle Farm). At four Tontonan won the Feehan Stakes (Moonee Valley) and Craiglee Stakes at Flemington. Trained by Bart Cummings, the bay gelding was ridden by Roy Higgins for 12 wins, two placings, from 16 starts.
Prizemoney: $175,000
3YO Fillies Set Weights plus Penalties. Apprentices cannot claim.
CAP D’ANTIBES (Better Boy (IRE) – Tereus)
The three-year-old filly Cap d’Antibes proved herself to be versatile and unstoppable at Flemington in the autumn of 1975. The previous spring she had won 1974 AJC Flight Sakes at Randwick, finished third in the 1974 VRC Oaks and second in the Sandown Guineas. Now she put together a unique Flemington treble, the Lightning Stakes (1000m), Newmarket Handicap (1200m) and the AV Kewney Stakes (2000m). Taras Bulba defeated her in the Australasian Champion Stakes in Sydney. At four years she won the Invitation Stakes at Caulfield and was second in the AJC Epsom Handicap.
Prizemoney: $175,000
3YO Set Weights plus Penalties. Apprentices cannot claim.
Prizemoney: $175,000
3YO Set Weights plus Penalties. Apprentices cannot claim.
POSEIDON (Positano (GB) – Jacinth)
Named for the Ancient Greek god of the sea, earthquakes and horses, this Australian-bred champion, foaled in New South Wales in 1903, had a brief earth-shattering turf career. His dam Jacinth was a daughter of 1883 Melbourne Cup winner Martini-Henry and granddaughter of 1877 winner Chester. After one win at two years, Poseidon at three won 11 of 14 starts including two Derbys, the 1906 Caulfield and Melbourne Cups and two St Legers. He won another 7 races at four years, including a second Caulfield Cup and the VRC Melbourne Stakes. Poseidon is in the Australian Racing Hall of Fame.
Prizemoney: $150,000
Open Handicap. Apprentices cannot claim.
Prizemoney: $80,000
Benchmark 78 Handicap. Apprentices can claim.
