Historical Timeline

1859

First racemeeting held at Caulfield (not VATC)

1859 & 1861

The Caulfield Racecourse Reserve was threatened by a proposed extension of Glen Eira Road in 1859. In 1861 local residents opposed to the racetrack moved to have a cemetery established at the Reserve.

1875

Club formed at a meeting at Craigs Hotel, Ballarat on 13th - 14th October.

1876

First VATC racemeeting held at Dowling Forest Racecourse, Ballarat on Friday, 24th March. On the success of its first meeting the VATC looked for a track of its own and chose the rough heath and scrubland at Caulfield. The first VATC meeting was held there on 5th August.

Early meetings were generally for Amateur riders, hence the "Victoria Amateur Turf Club".
"Gentlemen" riders paid their subscriptions to compete against each other. The Club turned to more professional meetings after the success of the early meetings.

1879

The first Caulfield Cup was run. It was held in the Autumn and was won by Newminster.

1881

The Caulfield Cup was switched to the Spring and there were two Cups held. One

in Autumn and one in Spring. The change was reportedly made at the suggestion of the then Secretary of the VRC, Mr Robert Bagot. N.R. Bond, who was Secretary of the VATC at the time was a friend of Bagot's and it was agreed that the Caulfield Cup would be an ideal lead into the Melbourne Cup, which had already established itself as the premier race on the Australian Racing Calendar. The Caulfield Guineas and Toorak Handicap were also run for the first time.

1885

Sixteen horses fell in the Caulfield Cup. It was one of the worst accidents on the Australian Turf, with jockey, Donald Nicholson being killed.

1898

The Futurity Stakes was run for the first time. It was won by Resolute.

1908

Glenhuntly residents moved to gain 13 acres of land from the Racecourse Reserve for a public park. The Minister for Lands opposed the action.

1919

Richard Bradfield trains the three placegetters in the Caulfield Cup - Lucknow, Night Watch and Chrome.

1922

The Members' Stand, Judge's Box, Weighing Room, Committee Rooms, Stewards' Room,
Secretary's Office, Press Reserve, Telegraph and Telephone Office were burnt down on the eve of the Caulfield Cup. Folklore has it that Leslie "Squizzy" Taylor was responsible for the fire.

1927

Fire destroyed the Guineas Stand on the eve of the Oakleigh Plate meeting. There were no
suspicious circumstances this time.

1934

Caulfield was graced with royalty for the first time when George V's son Henry, Duke of Gloucester attended the Cup meeting.

1937

Heavy rain on the eve of the Cup led to it being postponed to the following Wednesday. This was the first and only time the Cup had been postponed.

1940 - 43

Caulfield was occupied by the Army as a training camp. VATC meetings were conducted at
Flemington.

1946

A record crowd of 108,123 attends the Cup to watch the champion Bernborough run fifth after a chequered run.

1948

The Melbourne Racing Club is formed out of an amalgamation of the Williamstown Racing Club which lost its course after the war, and the Victorian Trotting and Racing Association which raced at Ascot and Mentone. Plans for the building of Sandown commenced. The V.T. & R.A. had the land at Springvale and the W.R.C. had the funds. While Sandown was being constructed the MRC raced at the three existing Melbourne tracks.

1953

Then Vice-President of the USA, Richard Nixon attends the Cup meeting.

1954 - 55

Rising Fast becomes the first horse to win back-to-back Caulfield Cups since Poseidon in 1906/07.

1961

Off-course betting on the TAB commenced.

1963

The MRC, which had run into financial difficulties, was incorporated into the VATC, which took on the task of completing Sandown Racecourse. The site of new Sandown course had been used for a racecourse of the same name up until the 1930s when it was closed as part of the State Government's rationalising of racecourses.

1965

Sandown Racecourse was opened on 19th June, 1965 and a record crowd of 52,379 attended.

1971

The first Blue Diamond Stakes was won by Tolerance.

1981

Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II opened the Victorian Racing Museum.

1984

The Caulfield Cup was sponsored by Carlton & United Breweries for the first time.

1988

Prizemoney for the Caulfield Cup was lifted to $1 million.

1989

Work commenced on building the fully glassed in Rupert Clarke grandstand, which was to replace the old main grandstand which was constructed in the 1920's.

1991

First half of the Rupert Clarke Stand was completed

1992

The Rupert Clarke Stand second stage was completed and the Caulfield Tabaret commenced
Operations.

1995 - 96

Works to upgrade the course proper and build vehicle and pedestrian underpasses started after Caulfield Cup Day in 1995.

1996

The course proper and vehicle and pedestrian underpass work was completed for the Easter
meetings on 6th and 8th April at Caulfield.

1997

Highways Tabaret at Sandown was opened in May. Renovations to the grandstand ground floor at Sandown Racecourse were completed for the VicHealth Sandown Cup meeting.
The Quarantine Centre at Sandown was completed and used for the first time.

1998

1998 Prizemoney for the Foster's Caulfield Cup was raised to $1.5M and the race was won by the Lady Herries trained Taufan's Melody, which became the first European trained horse to win the event and with Faithful Son, the first overseas trained horses to compete in the race.

1999

Further renovations to Sandown Racecourse were completed in August. The official re-launch
of Sandown Racecourse took place on 10 October, Sandown Spring Carnival Raceday.

In March 1999, the VATC announced a re-vamp to the Sandown Cup, including a name change to 'Sandown Classic' and the introduction of weight-for-age conditions (replacing handicap conditions). Prizemoney was increased to $503,000 a lift of $250,000.

2000

Carlton & United Breweries announce a massive sponsorship deal with the Club worth $17.5
million over 7 years. Prizemoney for the Carlton Draught Caulfield Cup breaks the $2 million barrier and the prizemoney for the Carlton Draught Caulfield Guineas and Vinery Australia Thousand Guineas is raised to $750,000 and $500,000 respectively.

2001

The VATC celebrates 125 years of racing. Two racedays at Caulfield are themed to commemorate the Anniversary - the first dedicated to Club members on March 31, followed by a Public day on August 4.

Chairman Kevin Hayes announces the Club's 5-year $20 million strategic plan "Project Manikato" in a series of presentations to media, industry representatives, staff and members on October 9. The key initiatives within the plan include a change of name to the Melbourne Racing Club, improvements and upgrades to Caulfield Racecourse and training facilities, the repositioning of Caulfield Racecourse to become a dedicated centre of excellence hosting a revised annual program of 20 feature racedays and the construction of a second track (Hillside) at Sandown to complement the existing circuit (to become known as Lakeside).

Danamour wins the final race under the VATC name - the Farewell VATC Handicap - at Caulfield on December 29.

2002

Name change to Melbourne Racing Club becomes effective on January 1. At Caulfield on January 6, first race under new name - the Welcome Melbourne Racing Club Plate - is won by Romantic Flyer.

On January 26, Club announces establishment of strategic alliance with the Dubai Racing Club. Central to the partnership is a unique exchange of sponsorship of two selected feature meetings - a concept dubbed "One Event Two Racemeetings".

The Club's inaugural Dubai Tour from April 10 - 17 to witness the Melbourne Racing Club UAE Oaks meeting at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse on Saturday, April 13 attracts 103 participants. Imperial Gesture wins the US$250,000 Melbourne Racing Club UAE Oaks for the Godolphin Stable.

In June, the Club announces plans to install a $1.6 million Viscoride training track at Caulfield in March/April 2003.

2003

Sandown's redevelopment reaches its first critical implementation phase when the first meeting on the Lakeside track is conducted on Saturday 25 January. Lakeside is a reconfigured version of the traditional track at Sandown.

Sandown's transformation into Melbourne's first dual-circuit racecourse was subsequently completed with the gala opening of the new Hillside track on Sunday 16 March. Given the historical significance of the occasion, the Melbourne Racing Club designated the meeting its first free day since 1997. Admission was by voluntary donation of a gold coin, with proceeds assisting the Victoria State Emergency Service.

A crowd of more than 5,200 was in attendance as Victorian Racing Minister The Hon. John Pandazopolous officially declared the Hillside track open before unveiling a commemorative plaque in the Mounting Yard prior to the first race.

2005 - 2006

Caulfield Racecourse's course proper is dug up immediately following the Caulfield Cup meeting and re-layed. Racing returned to Caulfield for the 2006 Summer Classics in February.