Located on the banks of the Maribyrnong River to the west of Melbourne's CBD, Flemington Racecourse is Australia's biggest and most iconic track, primarily due to its long association with the Melbourne Cup. Opened back in 1840, Flemington hosted the very first Victoria Derby in 1855, which has become one of Australia's oldest and most prestigious horse races still taking place today. However, the jewel of the spring carnival is the race that stops a nation, the Melbourne Cup, which was first ran in 1870 at Flemington, and has become the richest two-mile handicap race in the world. 

Despite hosting a smattering of Group races in February and March, it is the four-meet Spring carnival that takes place over a week in late October and early November that is the highlight of the spring carnival and Australian racing program. This carnival begins with Derby Day, widely regarded by racing purists as the best race meet in Australia. With every race on the card given Group status, this meet is a punter's paradise. Featuring the aforementioned Victoria Derby, a staying race for three-year-olds, Derby Day also provides the last chance for horses to qualify for the Melbourne Cup, which is by tradition held on the first Tuesday in November, three days after Derby Day. 

The carnival continues with Oaks Day on Thursday, which features the VRC Oaks, another staying race, this time for three-year-old fillies. The four-day Flemington carnival is rounded out by Stakes Day on Saturday, featuring both the LKS Mackinnon Stakes over 2000 metres, and the Newmarket Handicap over 1200 metres. However, the Flemington races are not just for punters and racing fans, as fashion and particularly women's fashion, plays a central role in crafting the image of the carnival. 

Punters rank Flemington as a favourite track due to its wide expanses and long straight which offers every horse a chance to get out, ensuring that there are fewer hard-luck stories on race day. It is also the only track in Australia where sprint races up to 1200 metres are held directly up the straight, often producing the anomaly of a split field of horses, some going to the inside rail, and others coming to the outside rail close to the spectators. But with such an even track that favours leaders as well as swoopers, it is important to take note of 1400 and 1600-metre starts, where horses starting from wide barriers can get posted three and four-deep around the long bend coming into the home straight.

With a capacity upwards of 120,000 Flemington Racecourse is undoubtedly one of Australia's premier sporting arenas. A record attendance of 129, 069 piled through the turnstiles to witness the great grey Efficient triumph in the 2006 Derby.