Moonee Valley Racecourse is a horse-racing track in Melbourne

Melbourne

Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...

, Australia

Australia

Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

 which hosts races for Thoroughbreds. Located six kilometers from the Melbourne CBD, it is the home of the Moonee Valley Racing Club

Moonee Valley Racing Club

The Moonee Valley Racing Club is located at the Moonee Valley racecourse on McPherson Street, Moonee Ponds . It is one of three racing clubs in the Melbourne metropolitan area; the others are the Victoria Racing Club and the Melbourne Racing Club...

. It is situated Moonee Ponds

Moonee Ponds, Victoria

Moonee Ponds is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 7 km north-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Moonee Valley.It is home to Queens Park and the Moonee Valley Racecourse...

 which is a suburb of the City of Moonee Valley

City of Moonee Valley

The City of Moonee Valley is a Local Government Area located within the metropolitan area of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It comprises the north-western suburbs between 3 and 13 kilometres from the Melbourne city centre...

.

The track is roughly rectangular, with a circumference of 1,805 m and a finishing straight of 173 metres which is the shortest in Australia. The track is constructed of the StrathAyr Turf System, having a lower layer of sand and an upper rootzone layer reinforced with mesh elements. Racing takes place in an anti-clockwise direction, as it does on all Victorian tracks. A 965m harness racing

Harness racing

Harness racing is a form of horse racing in which the horses race at a specific gait . They usually pull a two-wheeled cart called a sulky, although racing under saddle is also conducted in Europe.-Breeds:...

 track located inside the turf track was the main metropolitan track for harness racing in Victoria for a number of years. The Moonee Valley grandstands have 12 function rooms, which on non-racedays, can cater for up to 1,200 people.

History

Moonee Valley Racecourse was established in 1883 by William Samuel Cox, who purchased a farm belonging to John F. Feehan for the purpose of establishing a racetrack. Being entirely freehold land owned by a private club, this separates Moonee Valley from other Melbourne racecourse such as Caulfield

Caulfield Racecourse

Caulfield Racecourse is one of Melbourne, Australia's best-known horse-racing tracks. Commonly known as "The Heath" by local racegoers, it is located eight kilometres from the Melbourne CBD, on the boundary of Caulfield and Caulfield East in Melbourne's south eastern suburbs...

 and Flemington

Flemington Racecourse

Flemington Racecourse is a major horse racing venue located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is most notable for hosting the Melbourne Cup, which is Australia's richest horse race. The racecourse is situated on low alluvial flats, next to the Maribyrnong River...

. Expansion of the racecourse facilities occurred in the 1960s, funded by compensation for land acquired for the construction of the adjacent Tullamarine Freeway

Tullamarine Freeway

The Tullamarine Freeway is an urban freeway in Melbourne, Australia, linking Melbourne Airport to the central business district.-History:Tullamarine Freeway is one of the oldest freeways in Melbourne, originally constructed in 1968-1970...

. In the 1970s harness racing

Harness racing

Harness racing is a form of horse racing in which the horses race at a specific gait . They usually pull a two-wheeled cart called a sulky, although racing under saddle is also conducted in Europe.-Breeds:...

 moved to the Valley, when night trotting relocated from the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds

Royal Melbourne Showgrounds

The Melbourne Showgrounds is located in the inner north-western suburb of Ascot Vale, Victoria, Australia, next door to Flemington Racecourse. Is the home of the annual Royal Melbourne Show, as well as major exhibitions, trade shows, and music concerts....

, this continued until its contract ended in February 2010 and events moved to the new Tabcorp Park

Tabcorp Park

Tabcorp Park is an Australian horse racing venue situated in Melton, Victoria, Australia; north-west of the Melbourne CBD. It is used for harness racing and is operated by Harness Racing Victoria.-Overview:...

 harness track which opened at Melton

Melton, Victoria

Melton is an outer-suburban city of Melbourne Victoria, Australia located 35 km east from Melbourne's central business district. It is the administrative centre for the Shire of Melton Local Government Area. At the 2006 Census, the Shire of Melton had a population of 35,490...

 in July 2009.

In 2009 the Moonee Valley Racing Club announced their redevelopment plans for the racecourse, with the relocation of the existing grandstands to make way for commercial and residential development. The works were estimated to cost $150 million, with $50 million in profit returning to the club. By 2011 the plans had expanded to cover four 20 storey high residential towers, to provide 2000 apartments and townhouses. Costing $1.4 billion, the racing club would receive $300 million. Local residents and politicians are opposed to the plan.

Transport

The racecourse can be reached via the route 59 tram

Melbourne tram route 59

Tram route 59 is a public transport service in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It runs from the intersection of Flinders Street and Elizabeth Street in the city centre to Airport West in the north western suburbs....

 from Elizabeth Street

Elizabeth Street, Melbourne

Elizabeth Street is one of the main north-south streets in the central business district of Melbourne, Australia, part of the Hoddle Grid laid out in 1837.- Geography :...

 in Melbourne city centre. Moonee Ponds railway station is a ten minute walk from the racecourse and is located on the Craigieburn railway line.

Races

Every October the Moonee Valley Racecourse hosts Australasia's richest weight-for-age horse-racing championship, the W.S. Cox Plate

Cox Plate

The W.S. Cox Plate is an Australian Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race held in Melbourne every October by the Moonee Valley Racing Club to honour W.S. Cox, the club's founder. For three-year-olds and over, the race is considered to be the Weight for Age championship of Australasia...

. Contested over a distance of 2,040 metres, the race is for three-year-olds and over.

Group races

Group races

Group races are the highest standard of Thoroughbred horseraces in Australia. The Australian Pattern Committee recommends to the Australian Racing Board which races shall be designated as Group races...

 run at Moonee Valley Racecourse include:

Grp	Race Name	Age	Sex	Weight	Distance	Date
1	Manikato Stakes Manikato Stakes The Manikato Stakes is a MVRC Group One Australian Thoroughbred horse race run under Weight for Age conditions, over a distance of 1200 metres at Moonee Valley Racecourse, Melbourne in September...	Open	Open	wfa	1200	September
1	W S Cox Plate	3YO+	Open	wfa	2040	October
1	William Reid Stakes/Australia Stakes Australia Stakes The William Reid Stakes, formerly Australia Stakes, is a Group 1 Australian thoroughbred horse race at Weight for Age, run over a distance of 1200 metres at Moonee Valley Racecourse, Melbourne in February. Prizemoney in 2010 was A$500,000....	Open	Open	wfa	1200	March
2	Alister Clark Stakes Alister Clark Stakes The Alister Clark Stakes is a MVRC Group 2 Australian Thoroughbred horse race, for three year-old colts and geldings, at set weights, over a distance of 2040 metres. It is held annually at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia...	3YO	Open	sw	2040	March
2	A J Moir Stakes/Schweppes Stakes Schweppes Stakes The Schweppes Stakes is a Moonee Valley Racing Club Group 2 Australian Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged three years old and over under Weight for age conditions, over a distance of 1200 metres. It is held at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne on WS Cox Plate day. Prizemoney in 2011 was...	Open	Open	wfa	1200	October
2	Jayco Crystal Mile Jayco Crystal Mile The Jayco Crystal Mile is a Moonee Valley Racing Club Group 2 Australian Thoroughbred horse race held under open handicap conditions for horses aged three years old and upwards, over a distance of 1600 metres....	Open	Open	hcp	1600	October
2	Sunline Stakes Sunline Stakes The Sunline Stakes is a Moonee Valley Racing Club Group 2 Australian Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares aged three years old and upwards, under Weight for Age conditions, over a distance of 1600 metres....	3YO+	F&M	wfa	1600	March
2	Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes The Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes is a Group 2 Australian Thoroughbred horse race held under Weight for Age conditions, for horses aged three years old and upwards, over a distance of 1600 metres. It is held at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne in September....	Open	Open	wfa	1600	September
2	Cathay Pacific Gold Cup Cathay Pacific Gold Cup The Cathay Pacific Gold Cup is a Moonee Valley Racing Club Group 2 Australian Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged three-years-old and upwards under open handicap conditions, over a distance of 2,500 metres....	3YO+	Open	sw+p	2500	October
2	Hollylodge Classic Hollylodge Classic The Hollylodge Classic is a Group 2 Australian Thoroughbred horse race for fillies aged three years old, at set weight conditions, over a distance of 1600 metres.It is held at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne.-Distance:* 1998 - 2004 held over 2040m...	3YO	Fillies	sw	1500	March
2	Bill Stutt Stakes Bill Stutt Stakes The Bill Stutt Stakes is a MVRC Group 2 Australian Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged three years old, under open set weight conditions, over a distance of 1600 metres. It is held annually at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne...	3YO	Open	sw	1600	September
2	Norman Carlyon Stakes Norman Carlyon Stakes The Norman Carlyon Stakes is a MRC Group 2 Australian Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged three years old and over under weight for age conditions, over a distance of 1200 metres...	3YO+	Open	wfa	1200	January
2	AAMI Vase AAMI Vase The AAMI Vase is a Moonee Valley Racing Club Group 2 Australian Thoroughbred horse race held under set weight conditions, for horses aged three years old, over a distance of 2040 metres. It is held at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne on WS Cox Plate Day...	3YO	Open	sw	2040	October
2	W H Stocks Stakes W H Stocks Stakes The W H Stocks Stakes is a Group 2 Australian Thoroughbred horse race for mares aged four years old and over, under weight for age conditions, over a distance of 1600 metres...	4YO+	Mares	wfa	1600	September
3	Ian McEwen Trophy Ian McEwen Trophy The Ian McEwen Trophy is a Group 3 Australian Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged three years old and over at Weight for age, over a distance of 1000 metres...	Open	Open	wfa	1000	August
3	JRA Cup JRA Cup The JRA Cup is a MVRC Group 3 Australian Thoroughbred horse race held under open handicap conditions, for horses aged three years old and upwards, over a distance of 2040 metres. It is held annually at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne in September. The total prize money is...	Open	Open	hcp	2040	September
3	Champagne Stakes MVRC Champagne Stakes The MVRC Champagne Stakes is a MVRC Group 3 Australian Thoroughbred horse race for three year old fillies, under set weight conditions, over a distance of 1200 metres. It is held annually at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne...	3YO	Fillies	sw	1200	October
3	Red Anchor Stakes Red Anchor Stakes The Red Anchor Stakes is a Moonee Valley Racing Club Group 3 Australian Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged three years old, at set weights with penalties, over a distance of 1200 metres...	3YO	Open	sw+p	1200	October
3	Inglis Mile Inglis Mile The Inglis Mile is a Moonee Valley Racing Club Group 3 Australian Thoroughbred horse race for mares aged four years old and upwards under handicap conditions, over a distance of 1600 metres.It is held annually at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne.-Name:...	4YO+	Mares	hcp	1600	October

External links

• MVRC official website