Michael O'Brien

With a racing history dating back to 1840, Flemington Racecourse is home to both the world-renown Melbourne Cup Carnival and Australia's premier racing club, the Victoria Racing Club (VRC). Established in 1864, the VRC has over 30,000 members, making it the largest member-based racing club in the world and hosting 25 race meetings per year. The Melbourne Cup Carnival, Ranging across its four key race days: Victoria Derby Day, Melbourne Cup Day, Oaks Day and Stakes Day, Offers an unrivalled world-class experience that encompasses the finest racing, entertainment, fashion, culture, food and wine all in the one place. Flemington Racecourse has established itself as one of the most versatile venues in Australia. With the capacity to hold up to 60,000 people in a huge outdoor setting or hold large indoor conferences or seminars, Flemington racecourse shows it’s true capability to cater for many types of events. The Victoria Racing Club is governed by a Board of Directors who are elected by the members and the Club employs over 200 permanent staff year round. These staff work across many different core departments to support racing and events in the background all the way through to our Tracks, Trades and Gardens team who ensure Flemington is in pristine condition for any given race day or event. Additional support roles are appointed on a contract basis for the lead up to and during the Melbourne Cup Carnival and a sizeable event-based workforce is employed throughout the year.