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Location | Caulfield, Victoria |
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Coordinates | 37°52′52″S 145°02′24″E / 37.881°S 145.040°E |
Owned by | Crown land |
Screened on | Seven Network |
Notable races | Caulfield Cup Caulfield Guineas Blue Diamond Stakes C F Orr Stakes Oakleigh Plate Underwood Stakes Futurity Stakes |
Caulfield Racecourse is one of Melbourne, Australia's best-known horse-racing tracks. Commonly known as "The Heath" by local racegoers,[1] It is home to the Melbourne Racing Club.
Horse-racing started there in 1859 on a bush track where the Melbourne Hunt Club met. A racecourse was then laid out on the site of the club's dog kennels. The Victoria Amateur Turf Club was then established in 1876 and the first Caulfield Cup race was run in 1879.[2]
The track has a triangular-shaped layout, comprising three straights, 30-metre (98 ft) wide, with a total circumference of 2.08-kilometre (1.29 mi) and a finishing straight of 367-metre (1,204 ft). All turns have a 4% to 6% banking. Racing takes place in an anti-clockwise direction. The totally glassed in Rupert Clarke stand provides an uninterrupted view of the racecourse.
Caulfield has about 25 race days each season and hosts some of the Australia's most famous and historic races including the Caulfield Cup, Caulfield Guineas, Blue Diamond Stakes, C F Orr Stakes, Oakleigh Plate, Underwood Stakes and Futurity Stakes.
Caulfield Racecourse Reserve is located nine kilometres from the Melbourne CBD, on the boundary of Caulfield and Caulfield East in Melbourne's south eastern suburbs. The Reserve was set aside for three purposes, racing, recreation and a public park. The Caulfield Racecourse Reserve Act 2017, established a Trust to plan for the future of the reserve, develop and maintain the reserve.[3]
The Trust reports publicly on its activities through an annual report which is reported to the Victorian Parliament and available on the Trust's web page.[4]
The Land Management Plan sets a bold vision for the future of the Reserve as a place for everyone is also available on the Trust's web page.[3]