Melbourne Racing Club (MRC) has announced its racing fixtures for next season, with the 2026/27 program to include the return of Group 1 racing to Sportsbet Sandown, as well as five transferred meetings from Moonee Valley Racing Club (MVRC).
Sandown Hillside will play a central role in the 2026 Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival, hosting two Group 1 races, headlined by the Sportsbet C.F. Orr Stakes meeting on Saturday, November 14.
Of the transferred MVRC meetings, the Group 1 Moir Stakes over 1000 metres will also be conducted at Sandown Hillside on Saturday, September 5.
MRC Chief Executive Tanya Fullarton said the upcoming season presented a strong opportunity to highlight the depth of the Club’s racing program across its three tracks.
“Sportsbet Sandown is a proven metropolitan racing venue and will have a significant role in the 2026/27 season,” Fullarton said.
“The return of Group 1 racing to Sandown is a great outcome for the Club and for Victorian racing. Sandown has long demonstrated its capacity to host racing of this calibre throughout the season.”
The other transferred MVRC feature meetings will be held at Caulfield Racecourse. The Group 1 William Reid Stakes will once again be held at Caulfield on Saturday, March 20, while the MVRC’s other Group 1 sprint over 1200 metres, the Manikato Stakes, will be held as part of a combined MRC and MVRC feature meeting at Caulfield on Sunday, September 27, the day after the 2026 AFL Grand Final.
“The MRC has worked closely with MVRC and Racing Victoria to deliver these meetings in a way that supports the broader Victorian racing calendar,” Fullarton said.
“These are important racedays, carrying major races and strong industry interest. The Club is well placed to host them.”
Caulfield will host its traditional major spring features, including the Memsie Stakes on August 29 and the Underwood and Rupert Clarke Stakes meeting on September 19, before the Club’s marquee racedays featuring the Caulfield Guineas and Caulfield Cup.
Scheduled track renovation works will be undertaken following the Sportsbet Caulfield Cup meeting on Saturday, October 17, with Caulfield confirmed to resume racing on Saturday, January 30 in 2027, ahead of a strong summer and autumn calendar, including the Sportsbet Blue Diamond Stakes raceday on Saturday, February 20.
Mornington will host two Saturday fixtures next season with the Ansett Classic scheduled on September 26 and the Mornington Cup on April 17.
“There will be some changes to the Club’s usual fixture list after the 2026 Caulfield Cup Carnival,” Fullarton said.
“The Club will undertake its first major resurfacing works at Caulfield Racecourse since 2014, as part of a planned program of works across Caulfield and Caulfield Heath. This is an important long-term investment in the Club’s racing assets
“Sandown and Mornington will play important roles through the summer period before Caulfield and Caulfield Heath return in the new year.”
The 2026/27 MRC season is scheduled to comprise 78 race meetings, with 28 at Sportsbet Sandown, 19 at Caulfield, 17 at Mornington and 14 at Caulfield Heath.
Key MRC race dates in 2026/27
- Saturday, 8 August 2026 – Caulfield:
MVRC transferred meeting
- Saturday, 15 August 2026 – Caulfield:
P.B. Lawrence Stakes
- Saturday, 22 August 2026 – Sandown Hillside:
MVRC transferred meeting / Carlyon Stakes
- Saturday, 29 August 2026 – Caulfield:
Memsie Stakes
- Saturday, 5 September 2026 – Sandown Hillside:
MVRC transferred meeting / Moir Stakes
- Saturday, 19 September 2026 – Caulfield:
Underwood and Rupert Clarke Stakes
- Sunday, 27 September 2026 – Caulfield:
MVRC/MRC feature meeting / Manikato and Feehan Stakes
- Saturday, 10 October 2026 – Caulfield:
Caulfield Guineas
- Wednesday, 14 October 2026 – Caulfield:
Caulfield Social
- Saturday, 17 October 2026 – Caulfield:
Caulfield Cup
- Saturday, 14 November 2026 – Sandown Hillside:
C.F. Orr Stakes
- Saturday, 28 November 2026 – Sandown Hillside:
Spring Finale Raceday
- Saturday, 30 January 2027 – Caulfield:
Caulfield racing resumes
- Saturday, 6 February 2027 – Caulfield:
Blue Diamond Preludes and Kevin Heffernan Stakes
- Saturday, 20 February 2027 – Caulfield:
Blue Diamond Stakes
- Saturday, 13 March 2027 – Sandown Lakeside:
Victorian Owners and Breeders Raceday
- Saturday, 20 March 2027 – Caulfield:
MVRC transferred meeting / William Reid Stakes
- Saturday, 17 April 2027 – Mornington:
Mornington Cup
