Administration: Moonee Valley Racing Club.
Feature Races: The Cox Plate is Australia’s premier Weight for Age event, held over 2040 metres in late October between the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.
History: First run in 1922, the Cox Plate always attracts the finest horses racing in Australia and beyond and is known for being the scene of some truly unforgettable racing moments. Every raceday during the Spring Carnival has an official flower, for the Cox Plate it is the Cecil Brunner Rose.
About the track: Circumference is 1805 metres, length of the home straight is 173 metres. The only track in Victoria to be made with Strathayr. The Valley is consistently rated between Good and Dead, rarely rated worse than Slow. Even after heavy rain, the sand base compacts to become firm and drainage is very good. The track is a tight turning cambered circuit which some horses do not handle very well (particularly those who are trained at larger tracks or used to running in the opposite direction.) Horses trained at Mornington (one of the smaller provincial Victorian tracks) often go well here as the tracks have similar characteristics.
Characteristics: Barriers are of little consequence when the rail is True, as fields are limited to a maximum of 15 and often there are only 8 - 10 runners in a race. When the rail goes out 5m or more we see a distinct advantage to those who are drawn in and can race on the pace. They can dictate the speed of the race and get a winning break from the turn into the home straight. One thing to look out for is a top weight drawn in barrier 1. They often get trapped too far back and are unable to make up sufficient ground in the straight.
How to get to Moonee Valley Racecourse:
By Car: Located about 7kms from the Melbourne CBD via Mt Alexander Rd, parking is available on course. Melways reference 29 A7.
By Train: The Craigieburn line train departs from Flinders Street station. Disembark at Moonee Ponds station. The course is a 10-minute walk down Puckle Street, across Moonee Ponds junction to Dean Street, and turn left into McPherson Street for main entrance.
By Tram: Terminals are located at the Moonee Ponds Junction (off Puckle St and Pascoe Vale, Mt Alexander and Ascot Vale Roads). Tram No. 59 from Elizabeth St arrives directly at the Junction terminal. From there it is a 200m walk to the Stand Turnstile entrance on McPherson St.
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