Winter racing for a good cause on VRC Community Race Day at Flemington

Local Flemington, Kensington and Ascot Vale residents and others in postcodes 3031 and 3032 can show their ID at the gate to gain free entry, with the race day the first of five winter race meetings at Flemington Racecourse this year.   

The VRC will partner with our neighbours The Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal on the day. This year’s Appeal raised more than $23 million for The Royal Children’s Hospital to ensure they can continue to provide world-class care for children right in our own backyard. Eight races on Saturday have been named in honour of The Royal Children’s Hospital, the Good Friday Appeal, and their partners who helped to reach this year’s incredible fundraising amount. 

VRC Community Race Day continues the club’s partnership with the Good Friday Appeal after raising $41,000 for the charity during the Flemington Racing Spectacular, with racegeors on Saturday encouraged to contribute by scanning QR codes to donate online or making cash donations into the fundraising tins located across the course to help kickstart the 2024 Appeal.  

There will be a unique sporting flavour to the action on the track with a host of runners bearing names in honour of sporting champions. These include Typhoon Titmus who is part-owned by two-time Olympian gold medallist Ariarne Titmus OAM and horses named after football greats Perovic (Val Perovic), Big Jimma (Jim Stynes OAM) and Jezoulenko (Alex Jezoulenko).

Connections will be targeting heats of the Winter Race Series on Saturday with eight sets of heats to be run. The winner and runner-up of each heat will qualify for the final on Flemington Finals Day on Saturday 1 July.  

Racegoers will have the opportunity to have their photo taken with the 2023 Lexus Melbourne Cup before it begins its four month journey visiting towns and communities as part of the Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour.  The iconic trophy will be available for photos in The Club Stand Lobby between 12 – 12:45pm for VRC Members and in Saintly Place between 1 – 1:45pm for general admission racegoers.  

Living Legends Beat the Clock and Tom Melbourne will be on-course for the day, with racegoers able to visit the legends in the horse stalls and watch them parade in the Mounting Yard after races 2 and 4.   

VRC Chief Executive Officer Steve Rosich emphasised the generosity of Flemington racegoers, and acknowledged the way in which they unite in support of causes that help those in our community.  

“VRC Community Race Day is an opportunity to acknowledge our local Flemington community, the incredible work of the Good Friday Appeal and all they do for our neighbours at The Royal Children’s Hospital,” Mr Rosich said.    

“The VRC is proud of our ongoing relationship with the Good Friday Appeal, and looks forward to continuing to raise awareness as part of our contribution to the wider Victorian community.” 

“We look forward to opening our gates to local residents from the surrounding Flemington community with free entry on Saturday.”

Executive Director of the Good Friday Appeal Rebecca Cowan echoed the importance of the VRC’s fundraising initiatives.   

"The Good Friday Appeal could not have achieved this year's amazing result of $23,061,320 without the support of our generous community,” Ms Cowan said.  

“Thank you to the Victoria Racing Club for their support during the Flemington Racing Spectacular as well as this opportunity for the GFA to recognise and thank our own supporters and partners through the VRC Community Race Day. Together we have made a huge difference to the lives of sick children and their families.”  

Gates open at 10:50am with race 1 at 11:50am. General Admission tickets are $20 per person with children under 12 admitted free. Ticketing information.

VRC Community Race Day Program