Were you one of the two million spectators that enjoyed a day at the races in 2007/8?

Horse racing is Australia’s third most attended sport after rugby league and AFL. With a choice of over three hundred and thirty racecourses across Australia, the choice of race venues is greater than any other country in the world. Since the first horses arrived in Australia in 1788, racing has grown to the extent that the nation now hosts some of the world’s most prestigious racing events.

Thriving industry

Employing almost two hundred and fifty thousand people, horse racing is big business in Australia. There are over three hundred active racecourses in the country from small provincial tracks to huge events centres such as Flemington and Randwick. There are up to a dozen race meetings being held every day and so racing enthusiasts have a wide choice of events to watch, either on television or at the track.

Major events

There are several high profile events in the racing calendar that attract both keen racing enthusiasts and casual racegoers. In recent years over a hundred thousand spectators have crammed into the Flemington racecourse on Melbourne Cup Day and tens of thousands of spectators also attend the Victoria Derby, the Caulfield Cup and the VRC Oaks.

Provincial tracks

As well as a dozen or so major national events, there are many race meetings happening across the country on a daily basis. There were almost twenty thousand horse races in Australia in the 2004/05 season alone. Admission to a local racecourse can start from just a few dollars and so it is possible to enjoy a day at the races without it costing you a fortune.

Racing as a social event

Over the last few years, many racecourses have also introduced a range of social and entertainment events to encourage casual racegoers to the track. Events such as ‘ladies day’ and ‘fashions on the field’ are now common as turf clubs across Australia turn a day at the gallops into a social event.

There are many towns and cities where the biggest social gathering of the year is their main horse racing meeting. For example, Wagga Wagga’s Gold Cup day is the Riverina’s biggest tourist event of the year.

Betting at the track

Most race courses offer betting facilities and these typically include on course bookmakers and TV screens with coverage from other racing events. Many of you will enjoy betting at the trackside as the traditions and rituals of the on-course bookmakers appeal to many. You can search out the best value odds for the various runners and many also like the feeling of an instant cash win should their horse triumph.

Thriving industry

Horse racing in Australia has never been more popular. With over $12 billion dollars wagered on racing through bookmakers and the TAB every year it is also big business. Whether you attend the races once a year for a major event, or you are a regular at the trackside, you’re contributing to the continued success of Aussie racing.

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