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Racing

Positive Melbourne Cup Carnival figures

The four days of the Melbourne Cup Carnival at Flemington has seen some positive outcomes on and off the course.

HALF YOURS winning the Melbourne Cup at Flemington in Australia.
HALF YOURS winning the Melbourne Cup at Flemington in Australia. Picture: Getty Images

Key stats

The 2025 Melbourne Cup Carnival welcomed its largest crowd since 2018 with 286,746 attending Flemington.

  • 53% of all general admission tickets for the Melbourne Cup Carnival were purchased by people under the age of 35, up 17% year-on-yearLexus Melbourne Cup broadcast National Total TV reach increased 
  • 9% year-on-year, with total audience over 2 million for the first time since 2018
  • 5.5 million Australians tuned in to the 9Network across the Melbourne Cup Carnival  
  • Record wagering turnover across both the Lexus Melbourne Cup meeting and the Lexus Melbourne Cup raceStrong corporate hospitality growth, with 10% year-on-year revenue growth
  • Over 36 million video views across VRC's digital channels, up 63% year-on-year
  • The 2025 Melbourne Cup Carnival attracted over 286,000 racegoers to Flemington across four spectacular days, while achieving increased broadcast figures that reinforced the Lexus Melbourne Cup's status as the race that stops a nation.

"The success of the 2025 Melbourne Cup Carnival has emphatically demonstrated that racing is back and thriving," VRC CEO Kylie Rogers said. 

"With our largest crowd since 2018, record-breaking wagering turnover on Lexus Melbourne Cup Day, and significant uplift in broadcast figures, the momentum and energy throughout the week was infectious. 

"What's particularly exciting is the significant growth in younger audiences, with 53% of general admission tickets purchased by people under 35. This Carnival has demonstrated that racing continues to captivate a diverse range of audiences. The Melbourne Cup Carnival continues to hold its place as Australia's most celebrated sporting and entertainment event, and the momentum we're seeing gives us tremendous confidence for the future."

 Across four days, Flemington hosted 37 races, including eight Group 1 races with more than $30 million in prizemoney, showcasing the very best of Australian and international racing.

Via Sistina, trained by Chris Waller and ridden by James McDonald, defended her title in the $3 million TAB Champions Stakes, becoming the first mare since Tranquil Star in 1944–45 to win the race back-to-back. Her victory marked a sixth Group 1 win in 2025 — more than any other horse globally.

Giga Kick claimed the $3 million VRC Champions Sprint, delivering a long-awaited Group 1 win in Victoria for trainer Clayton Douglas and jockey Mark Zahra, who enjoyed an incredible week with eight wins. Zahra also partnered with Ciaron Maher and Godolphin to win the $2 million Group 1 Howden Victoria Derby aboard Observer and reunited with Anthony and Sam Freedman to take out the $2 million Coolmore Stud Stakes on Tentyris.

The $1 million Crown Oaks saw Strictly Business storm to victory for Ballarat-based trainer Thomas Carberry in his first Australian Group 1 start.

Pride Of Jenni, the 2023–24 Australian Horse of the Year, delivered another unforgettable performance in the TAB Empire Rose Stakes, becoming the first dual winner of the race with a bold front-running ride by Declan Bates.


Daily attendance figures reflected the Carnival's broad appeal, with Howden Victoria Derby Day attracting 86,343 guests, Lexus Melbourne Cup Day attracting 84,373, Crown Oaks Day welcoming 51,239, and TAB Champions Stakes Day closing the week with 65,012 racegoers.

The economic impact of the Melbourne Cup Carnival was on full display on Lexus Melbourne Cup Day, with 66% of ticket sales coming from interstate or international visitors. 


Overall digital engagement increased by 18% year-on-year, driven by exceptional growth across VRC's digital channels. Fashions audiences tripled and racing audiences doubled across the official VRC Digital Channels, reflecting the strength of VRC's storytelling and the growing demand for rich, immersive digital content and experiences.


The 2025 Lexus Melbourne Cup Day meeting set a new wagering record, with turnover reaching $382.5 million across the meeting - an 11.1% year-on-year increase. This also surpassed the previous record of $375.6 million set in 2021.

The race itself also broke records, generating $247.4 million in turnover, a 16.4% increase from last year and exceeding the previous record of $225.8 million set in 2021.


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