Melbourne Cup week is comprised of 4 days of racing.
As a carnival it is similar in scope to Royal Ascot who also run a 4 day program during the English summer, and there is also the Ebor carnival at York during late August.
Firstly, there is VRC Derby Day run on the first Saturday of November.
This year it will be the 2nd November 2019.
Secondly, there is Cup day itself which is on the first Tuesday of every November.
This is the day of the big race, 5th November 2019.
Thirdly, we have Ladies Day which is held on the Thursday.
This is when the Kennedy Oaks for 3 year old fillies is run, 7th November 2019.
Lastly, we have Stakes Day, which is held on the second Saturday, 9th November 2019.
Cup Changes?
Over the years the VRC have chopped and changed many of the races between the first and second Saturdays, and there have been name changes galore as well, with different sponsors coming in and dropping out over time.
For instance, the Salinger Stakes was previously the Linlithgow Stakes.
The Coolmore Stud Stakes was previously the Ascot Vale Stakes, the Hotham Handicap has reverted to its original name after being known as the Lexus Stakes in recent times.
The time honoured L.K.S McKinnon Stakes is now known as the Emirates Stakes.
For 2019, this is how it stacks up.
2019 Victoria Derby Day
Group 1 AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m)
Group 1 Kennedy Mile (1600m)
Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m)
Group 1 Myer Classic (1600m)
Group 2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m)
Group 2 Salinger Stakes (1200m)
Group 3 Hotham Handicap (2500m)
Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m)
Group 3 Begonia Belle Stakes (1100m
2019 Melbourne Cup Day
Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m)
Group 3 Maybe Mahal Stakes (1400m)
Group 3 Ottawa Stakes (1000m)
2019 Kennedy Oaks Day
Group 1 Kennedy Oaks (2500m)
Group 3 Red Roses Stakes (1000m)
Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate (1000m)
2019 Emirates Stakes Day
Group 1 Emirates Stakes (2000m)
Group 1 VRC Sprint Classic (1200m)
Group 2 Matriarch Stakes (2000m)
Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2500m)
Group 3 Chatham Stakes (1400m)
Return to: Melbourne Cup 2019
