On Tuesday, 3rd November 2026, all eyes will be on Flemington Racecourse for the Lexus Melbourne Cup. This legendary event is the heart of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, bringing together the best of horse racing, culture, and celebration.
Lexus Melbourne Cup Day isn’t just about the race itself; it’s a day of unparalleled excitement and tradition. From the roar of the crowd as the horses thunder down the straight to the stunning display of style and fashion that defines Cup Day, every aspect of this event is steeped in prestige and grandeur.
Whether you’re soaking up the atmosphere trackside, indulging in exquisite hospitality packages, or simply admiring the fashion spectacle on show, Cup Day promises unforgettable memories.
Fancy a gallop? Register your interest now to be part of this iconic event and secure your place in the story of the race that stops a nation.
Tuesday 3 November, 2026
Feature races
Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m)
5:30PM
PNAU is the multi-platinum-selling, ARIA award-winning electronic act of Nick Littlemore (Empire of the Sun) & Peter Mayes playing smash hits Cold Heart, Chameleon and more. Catch them at The Elms Live Stage, presented by Maccas.
The Lexus Melbourne Cup Trophy Ceremony will commence at 2.23pm in the Mounting Yard, with a Welcome to Country, followed by a performance by PNAU, the arrival of the 2025 Lexus Melbourne Cup, and Greta Bradman performing the Australian National Anthem.
Raise a glass to the season with the Don Julio Golden Gallop - the exclusive cocktail of the 2025 Melbourne Cup Carnival.
You can purchase a Golden Gallop from a selection of bars in both Members and Public venues.
*T&Cs apply.The heart of family fun, food and discovery! The first dedicated family-friendly space including kids’ entertainment; immersive activities; and dedicated equine. Entry to The Park is FREE for all racegoers!
The globally renowned fashion event, Fashions on the Field, has been a highlight of the Melbourne Cup Carnival since 1962. Returning this year to the iconic Front Lawn, be sure not to miss the iconic runway throughout the day.
Experience the high energy of the Club Lawn! Sando Sans by Mr Miyagi, Editas and Johhny, Vince and Sam's will be serving up a variety of Melbourne’s best takeaway options towards the east end of the Front Lawn.
2:00PM, 3:20PM & 4:00PM
Two-time ARIA nominee and homegrown Aussie DJ and record producer CYRIL joins us at Lexus Melbourne Cup Day. With over 1 billion streams, don't miss the multi-platinum artist live at The Elms Live Stage, presented by Maccas.
Lexus Melbourne Cup Day is the day to embrace colour and carnival spirit. Think vivid tones, daring prints, and statement hats. The carnival atmosphere is reflected in the fashion of the day, from sleek tailoring in brights to feminine florals bursting with energy.
Official flower: Yellow Rose
Be sure to visit The Park between 12pm - 1pm so you can get your owned signed copy of Michelle Payne's new book, Ride On.
Blaze a trail to the stylish surrounds of the world-famous Birdcage at the 2025 Melbourne Cup Carnival. Simply scan your VRC Membership card and enjoy the Birdcage Stage, the Birdcage Flowershop and more!
The home of live music and trackside moments! The ultimate trackside party zone featuring live music and entertainment and spaces to gather with friends just past the Winning Post.
The much-loved spinning wheel is back! Take a spin for your chances to win prizes, thanks to our VRC partners. Keep an eye out as it moves through the Members Enclosure, throughout Cup Week!
Pin & Win has raised over $9 million for charities since 1995. Through the Pin & Win partnership, RMHC VIC & TAS will be aiming to raise funds to cover 4000 nights of accommodation. Purchase a pin on-course or online, or you can also donate to the RMHC VIC & TAS Pin and Win Campaign.
Transform your racing experience this Melbourne Cup Carnival with Inside Run, your official race guide! It’s free and requires no sign-up, offering live streaming, instant replays, animated AI-powered predictor videos, expert tips, and race day news—keeping you connected to all the on-track action!
Visit The Pamper Lounge by Runway Room & celebrity hair stylist Joey Scandizzo this Cup Week. Enjoy complimentary make-up touch-ups, express lashes and hair to leave you glowing throughout the day in The Atrium of the Grandstand, and in The Birdcage!
Explore the incredible variety of food and drink options available this Melbourne Cup Carnival, including General Public, The Park, Members Enclosure, and The Birdcage.
Join the excitement at the TAB Saintly Place Sports Bar, the perfect spot for sports fans! Enjoy big-screen action, grab a refreshing drink, and indulge in the range of delicious bites available.
Enjoy a one-of-a-kind race day experience with live fashion illustrators. The perfect Carnival keepsake, our talented illustrators will capture your race day look for you to take home.
Resident DJ John Course will keep the party going in The Roof Garden on all 4 days of Cup Week, spinning music from after the feature race and continuing long after the last!
Official memorabilia for the 2025 Melbourne Cup Carnival including bucket hats, drink bottles and stubby holders.
Take your Flemington experience to the next level. The updated Digital Map helps you plan your experience before you have even arrived!
The Digital Map gives you real-time navigation and access to everything happening across Cup Week and the racing season.
It has also been included in the VRC Updated iOS App, available for download now on Apple App Store.
Prizemoney: $8,660,000
Open Handicap. Apprentices cannot claim.
‘The race that stops a nation®’
Race first run: Thursday, 7th November, 1861
165th of Series
Prizemoney: $200,000
2YO Set Weights. Apprentices cannot claim.
155th of Series
Prizemoney: $200,000
4YO & Upwards Mares Set Weights plus Penalties. Apprentices cannot claim.
Registered name: Maybe Mahal Stakes
48th of Series
Prizemoney: $175,000
3YO Handicap. Apprentices cannot claim.
Registered name: VRC Springtime Stakes
AMANDA ELLIOTT
Amanda Elliott served on the Victoria Racing Board, formerly the Committee, for eighteen years. The second woman ever elected to the Committee, she became the first to hold office as VRC Vice Chairman, and the first to serve as Chairman of the VRC, from 2017 until her retirement at the end of 2020. Her love of horses derived from her childhood at Chatsworth Park, near Nagambie, a property once owned by VRC Chairman, L.K.S. Mackinnon. Amanda Elliott’s father, Ian Bayles DFC, had served thirteen years on the committee, three years as Vice Chairman in the 1970s. The VRC’s Club Stand, opened in the spring of 2018, is very much a testament to Amanda Elliott’s vision.
Prizemoney: $175,000
Handicap. Apprentices cannot claim.
Registered name: Melbourne Cup Day Plate
Prizemoney: $175,000
3YO Set Weights plus Penalties. Apprentices cannot claim.
Registered name: Batman Stakes
BATMAN STAKES
In 1916, in the midst of the First World War with a new sense of Australian patriotism, the Victoria Racing Club renamed its traditional Spring Stakes for three-year-olds. It became the Batman Stakes commemorating John Batman who, with John Pascoe Fawkner, was widely recognised as the founder of Melbourne as a city. The Spring Stakes as a middle-distance race for three-year-olds traces its origins back to 1894. Earlier races called the Spring Stakes or Spring Handicap had been open-age events. The best recent winner of the race was Vow And Declare in 2018, a year before he won the Melbourne Cup.
Prizemoney: $250,000
Benchmark 96 Handicap. Apprentices cannot claim.
Prizemoney: $150,000
3YO Set Weights plus Penalties. Apprentices cannot claim.
Prizemoney: $150,000
Benchmark 90 Handicap (Grey horses only). Apprentices cannot claim.
SUBZERO (Kala Dancer (GB) – Wiley Trade (USA))
The Australian-bred grey gelding Subzero (by Kala Dancer), trained by Lee Freedman, won the South Australian Derby and Adelaide Cup before triumphing in the Melbourne Cup on a wet track in 1992, ridden by Greg Hall. Lasting fame for ‘Subbie’ came post-retirement, first as a Clerk of the Course horse at Flemington, later as a four-legged racing ambassador visiting schools, country towns, retirement homes and shopping centres with mentor Graham Salisbury. The story of this duo, who died within two months of each other in 2020, became part of modern Australian racing folklore.
