Victoria’s Spring Racing Carnival has recorded substantial growth across attendances, wagering and media engagement, with over 600,000 racegoers flocking to tracks throughout the three-month spectacular.
The 2025 carnival, which ran from August 30 to November 30, attracted 600,827 attendees—up from 596,955 in 2024 and marking a 7.8% increase over three years as racing fans continue embracing the post-Covid return to racetracks.
Sold-out crowds at the Sportsbet Caulfield Cup and Ladbrokes Cox Plate meetings preceded the highest attended Melbourne Cup Carnival since 2018, while 10 Country Cup meetings recorded attendance increases of 10% or more.
Wagering activity remained strong with total domestic turnover reaching $2.84 billion, representing a 3.2% year-on-year increase. Melbourne Cup Carnival turnover climbed to $727.4 million, the highest total since wagering’s Covid-influenced peak in 2022.
The Lexus Melbourne Cup generated a record $247 million in turnover—more than four times higher than any other race in Australia.
Returns to participants also increased, with $119.5 million in prizemoney and bonuses paid to owners, trainers and jockeys, up from $114.1 million in 2024.
Racing Victoria Chief Executive Aaron Morrison said the results confirmed the carnival’s growing appeal.
“It’s great to see the positivity surrounding this year’s Spring Racing Carnival confirmed by an increasing number of people choosing to attend, watch and wager on our sport,” Morrison said.
“Our Carnival has delivered again with incredible results on the track supported by some amazing events and it’s no coincidence to see engagement rising because of the hard work of many.
“The Victorian Government’s support of our major events remains vital, and we thank them for that with our Carnival generating $785 million in economic benefit for Victoria each year right across the state.
“The collective work that goes into the Spring Racing Carnival cannot be understated and it would be remiss of me not to also thank our participants, clubs, media and wagering partners, staff and volunteers for their efforts over the last three months.
“The story of Jamie Melham, Tony & Calvin McEvoy and Half Yours will go down in history as the headline act of a famous spring which included the feats of champion mare Via Sistina and a surprise rising star in Strictly Business.
“The roar of the crowds on course was on another level this Carnival, through both sunshine and rain, and I can’t thank racing fans enough for their unwavering passion and commitment.”
Jamie Melham etched her name into history books by becoming the first female jockey to complete the Sportsbet Caulfield Cup–Melbourne Cup double aboard Half Yours, who became the 13th horse to achieve the feat.
Via Sistina cemented her place among the all-time greats with consecutive victories in the Ladbrokes Cox Plate and TAB Champions Stakes for the second straight year.
Strictly Business provided a fairytale story, rising from maiden to Crown Oaks winner in just 14 days and delivering Ballarat trainer Thomas Carberry his first Group 1 victory.
The Melbourne Cup Carnival attracted 286,746 patrons across four days—the highest total since 2018—with 53% of general admission tickets purchased by people under 35, up 17% year-on-year.
Caulfield Cup Carnival attendances grew 4.9% to 52,070, highlighted by a 10% increase on Caulfield Cup Day, while female attendances across the carnival jumped 49%.
The final Cox Plate Carnival at The Valley’s current layout drew impressive crowds, with Gold Cup Night up 30% and 22,147 attending Cox Plate Day, an increase of 9.5%.
A total of 5.5 million Australians tuned into the 9Network across Melbourne Cup Carnival, with the Melbourne Cup’s national total TV reach up 9% year-on-year, topping 2 million viewers for the first time since 2018.
Over 1.2 million viewers watched the final Cox Plate prior to The Valley’s redevelopment across Seven and 7plus coverage, a 23% uplift on 2024.
Social media engagement surged dramatically, with Racing Victoria and Racing.com accounts reporting combined figures of 7.4 million engagements (up 42.3%), 170.8 million impressions (up 30%) and 86,400 new followers (up 159.4%).
On the Country Cups circuit, trainer Paul Preusker and jockey Linda Meech dominated with three victories apiece. Preusker claimed the Coleraine, Geelong and Penshurst Cups, while Meech won the Murtoa, Kyneton and Penshurst Cups.
Evergreen galloper Station One captured his eighth Country Cup victory and second Traralgon Cup on the carnival’s final day, having also won the Gunbower Cup in early October.
Morrison said racing fans can look forward to more quality action before year’s end.
“There’s plenty more to come before the end of the year, from Saturday’s Pakenham Cup to a revitalised New Year’s Eve meeting at Flemington, while the 2026 Festival of Racing will be upon us before we know it,” Morrison said.
