Australian Group 1 racing
AUSTRALIA is home to some of the premier Group 1 races in the world.
Millions are spent by owners and trainers each year to secure the prime thoroughbreds to compete for riches beyond the average man’s wildest dreams.
For us dreamers it comes down to the punt and watching these prized race horses strut their stuff – with no better viewing than the Group 1 feature races around the country.
Much of this prize money is available through betting at various tote agencies and online sports betting sites, who pay money to the governing bodies, who in turn can give it back to the winning connections.
The Pattern Committee of the Australian Racing Board, prior to each racing season, decides which races will be given group and listed status.
The obvious biggest carrot on the Group 1 calendar is the Melbourne Cup, a 3200m staying race at Flemington racecourse; which these days is a race that attracts the best two milers in the world.
Other big races on the calendar include the Caulfield Cup, a race that is probably second only to the Melbourne Cup, in terms of prestige and it being the biggest race at Melbourne’s other city track Caulfield.
The Cox Plate is one of the richest races in the world and is often a good indicator of who will challenge for the Melbourne Cup, soon after. The Caulfield Cup-Melbourne Cup double is something truly cherished on the Australian turf.
Below are all the Group 1 races scheduled for the 2025/26 racing season.
Group 1 race dates for 2025/26 season
| 2025 | |
|---|---|
| August 23 | Winx Stakes |
| August 30 | Memsie Stakes |
| September 6 | Moir Stakes |
| September 13 | Makybe Diva Stakes |
| September 20 | Underwood Stakes |
| September 20 | Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes |
| September 26 | Manikato Stakes |
| September 27 | Golden Rose |
| October 4 | Epsom Handicap |
| October 4 | Flight Stakes |
| October 4 | The Metropolitan |
| October 4 | Turnbull Stakes |
| October 11 | Caulfield Guineas |
| October 11 | Might And Power Stakes |
| October 11 | Toorak Handicap |
| October 18 | Thousand Guineas |
| October 18 | King Charles III Stakes |
| October 18 | The Everest |
| October 18 | Caulfield Cup |
| October 25 | Cox Plate |
| October 25 | Spring Champion Stakes |
| November 1 | Victoria Derby |
| November 1 | Coolmore Stud Stakes |
| November 1 | Empire Rose Stakes |
| November 1 | Golden Eagle |
| November 4 | Melbourne Cup |
| November 6 | VRC Oaks |
| November 8 | VRC Champions Stakes |
| November 8 | Champions Sprint |
| November 8 | Champions Mile |
| November 15 | C F Orr Stakes |
| November 22 | Railway Stakes |
| November 29 | Winterbottom Stakes |
| December 6 | Northerly Stakes |
Betting on group 1 racing in Australia
Australians have plenty of choice when it comes to how and where they bet on horse racing in Australia. Some of the obvious choices are at the track, where you can bet on the tote or with a bookmaker.
Probably the most popular way for Australians to bet in 2026 is via the Internet and online bookies.
If you are on a mobile device you can download the app from the iOS App store or the Google Play store here, or if on another device you can visit the mobile sites from the below links.
You can read more about Australian horse racing bookmakers, or some of our favourites include: