The Moonee Valley Racecourse is located in the suburb of Moonee Ponds, six km from the centre of Melbourne. Often dubbed ‘Money Valley’ it is home to the Moonee Valley Racing Club and is host to the high-status W S Cox Plate in October. The track itself is rectangular and has the shortest finishing straight in Australia at 173 metres, making it perfect for front runners in the home-stretch, with races competed anti-clockwise. The track is of a StrathAyr Turf System, which means it has a layer of sand on which is placed a root zone layer with mesh elements.
Moonee Valley Racecourse Information
- Address: 1 McPherson St, Moonee Ponds Victoria 3039, Australia
- Telephone: (03) 9373 2222
- Track Circumference: 1,805 metres
Moonee Valley Racecourse Map
Moonee Valley Carnivals & Races
As home to some of the largest races in the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival, the Moonee Valley Racecourse has a reputation for holding exciting races. Among these are the Group 1 events the W S Cos Plate which is a weight-for-age over 2,040 metres for three-year-olds and over, the Manikato Stakes; an open weight-for-age1,200 metre race, and the Australia Stakes which is of the same structure as the Manikato Stakes.
Moonee Valley Racecourse History
The Moonee Valley Racecourse which came about due to William Sam Cox, the man who the C S Cox plate is named after, held its first racing meet in September of 1883.The highly prestigious C S Cox plate was inaugurated in 1922 as Australia’s weight-for-age horse-racing championship. The Moonee Valley Racing Club was the first to hold night races, and is host to 33 races, both day and night every year. Notable races held at the Moonee Valley Racecourse:
- Cox Plate
- Manikato Stakes
- Moonnee Valley Cup
- Dato Tam Chin Nam Stakes
- Schweooes Stakes
- Crystal Mile
- AAMI Vase
Moonee Valley Racecourse Venues & Facilities
Offering much more than just horse racing, the Moonee Valley Racecourse has a variety of options available to visitors. There are luxurious dining boxes with great views over the home stretch, The Member’s Jockey Bar Dining Room, the Members’ Concourse Dining Room and The Pavilion Room. The function rooms are also available for events on non race days.
Travelling To Moonee Valley Racecourse
Train: Just a 10 minute walk away from the racecourse is Moonee Ponds railway station which can be accessed from the Craigieburn railway line.
Tram: The racecourse is on tram No.59’s route, which can be taken from Elizabeth Street in Melbourne’s CBD.
Car: Just six kilometres from the city, the Moonee Valley racecourse is most easily accessed from Flemington and Mt Alexander Roads. However there is limited parking space available.
