With 26 feature country cups to be celebrated, run and won throughout the next three months of fabulous racing throughout the state, Victorians are encouraged to head along with friends and family, and take in one (or more) of the brilliant race day events that are the lifeblood of local communities.
Country towns come alive to stage the various feature events and race meetings, with iconic destinations such as Gunbower, Manangatang, Mt Wycheproof, Dunkeld and more hosting once-a-year meetings up to 10 times the size of the local population at their respective race days.
Rising star Sarah Field, who finished second in the CRV Apprentice Jockey Premiership in 2024-25, couldn’t hide her excitement at the upcoming country cups season, and having tasted success in the Burrumbeet Cup of 2024, is seeking more.
“The country circuit provides such a great platform for us as apprentice jockeys. Having taken one out last year, and seeing some of the apprentice’s perform so well — look at Jaylah (Kenndedy) winning the Ballarat Cup on her home track — I’d love to get my hands on another cup this season,” Field said.
Multiple country cups-winning trainer Emma-Lee Browne summed up the country racing circuit at a spring launch event recently.
“Country cups are where it’s at,” the trainer of CRV Horse of the Year finalist, and 2024 Dunkeld Cup winner, Rhinoceros, said.
“They’re full of our people, we know how to talk to them. It’s laid-back, it’s fun, and most importantly, it’s a party.
“Enjoying a day out with friends at the races at any of the beautiful race courses around Victoria, what more could you ask for?”
The Victorian Spring Racing Carnival alone contributes more than $785 million in economic benefits, but what often gets overlooked when measuring the impact of racing across the state are the tanks of fuel, cups of coffee, pies bought at the local bakery en route to and from the races, and all the benefits a day at the races brings.
The race days are, in many cases, the backbone of each town, and play an enormous role in bringing communities together.
Country Racing Victoria’s spring campaign, ‘As Real as it Gets’, highlights the relaxed nature of a day at the races in the country, going at your own pace and enjoying all the entertainment options available, with a range of live music, family-friendly activities, transport options, and hospitality packages to cater for all budgets and demographics.
Bucks and hens parties, birthday celebrations, kids activities, reunions — a day at the country races has got it all.
Country Racing Victoria has redistributed prizemoney levels to increase 30 country cup feature races across the 2025-26 season.
CRV chief executive Scott Whiteman was delighted to boost the respective clubs’ feature event on the calendar, and for racegoers to enjoy all the festivities that spring racing in the country has to offer.
“Prizemoney increases to the respective cups will elevate the quality of racing, and give participants extra incentive to target country cups,” he said.
“We saw crowd numbers spike last season, with racegoers enjoying all the fun and action-packed racing that a day at the country races is renowned for, and look forward to welcoming Victorians and visitors to race tracks around the state this spring.”
In a major boost for the country cups carnival, the Geelong Cup has been elevated, with the winner receiving a ‘golden ticket’ ballot exemption for direct entry and a place in the 24-horse field for the $10 million Lexus Melbourne Cup.
Geelong Racing Club chief executive Luke Rayner hailed the elevation as the “most significant announcement in the club’s 160-year history”.
Whilst already boasting an exceptional honour roll, including three horses to complete the Geelong-Melbourne Cup double (Media Puzzle — 2002, Americain — 2010, Dunaden — 2011), the Ladbrokes Geelong Cup takes added appeal this year, with up to 10,000 racegoers expected to flock to the Bellarine Peninsula on Wednesday, October 22.
Benalla and Coleraine stage the first two country cups meetings for the season, both held on the AFL grand final eve public holiday, Friday, September 26, with the spring carnival running through to bet365 Traralgon Cup Day on Sunday, November 30.
For tickets and more information about any of the feature spring carnival events in the country, visit country.racing.com.
