Caulfield Racecourse held its first race meeting in 1859 and at that time races were conducted across rough bush, heath and sand hills.
The course is still referred to as ‘The Heath’.
Located 8km east of the centre of Melbourne, it is host to some of Australia’s oldest and most famous races, in fact the racecourse hosts a dozen Group 1 races every year, races such as the Caulfield Guineas, Oakleigh Plate, Blue Diamond Stakes and the Caulfield Cup.
The Caulfield Cup is second only to the Melbourne Cup as Australia’s premier staying contest, and the two races, held 17 days apart, make up the big spring double.
The course has been thoroughly renovated in recent times with the construction of the Sir Rupert Clarke Stand providing outstanding facilities to view the top-class racing that Caulfield provides.
Caulfield is also one of Victoria’s major training bases, accommodating more than 500 horses.
THE CAULFIELD RACECOURSE TRACK
- Anti-Clockwise Running.
- The course is almost triangular in shape and has a circumference of 2080m.
- The straight is 367m.
The Caulfield Cup start at the 2400m begins at the top of the home straight.
From the winning post runners turn left out of the straight and are on a straightish bend to the 1800m point.
The track then rises along the straight run until about the 1300m and keeps rising around the left turn on to the side of the track at the 1000m.
From there it is a straight downhill run of 600m to the graduated home bend into the straight.
The 1400m start is from a chute that starts virtually on a bend, so inside draws are a definite advantage. Races up to 1200m start from a chute that joins the side of the track, giving a straight downhill run all the way to the turn.
Directions to Caulfield Racecourse
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Caulfield racecourse boasts a number of great facilities for its members as well as the general public.
The superb Rupert Clarke grandstand is glassed in for added comfort during winter and summer offering uninterrupted views of the mounting yard, home turn and winning post. In addition to the racing at Caulfield, many well known Victorian trainers and over 500 horses call Caulfield home