Bendigo Races

Introduction

The Bendigo Races host 25 meetings per year at Bendigo Racecourse.

The site has its very own Spring Carnival, which is centred around the prestige Jayco Bendigo Cup – highlighted as important Melbourne Cup lead-up race.

The Bendigo Races are located 152km North-West of Melbourne, in the historic Gold-Mining town, Bendigo.

The Bendigo Jockey Club was formed in 1854 and is located in the heart of the Bendigo Racecourse.

In 1998, the complete track was finally reconstructed, with the race course now donning a circumference of 1,995m, and a 400m straight.

There are also two starting chutes on the track, one sitting at 900 metres, 1,000 metres, 1,100 metres – and other holding starts over 1,600m.

The racecourse does, however, hold races up to 2,400 metres.

Bendigo Racecourse Details
Address: Heinz Street White Hills
Suburb: Bendigo, Victoria, 3550
Phone Number: (03) 5448 4209
Circumference: 1,995m
Direction: Anti-Clockwise
Track Type: Turf

Key Bendigo Races

Bendigo Races

The RaceClub hosts around 25 racing meets per year, with the main events as, the Margong Cup, the Elmore Cup in March – and the most popular, Bendigo Cup, hosted later in the year.

Bendigo Racing Tips     

Bendigo Racecourse Barrier and Starting Positions

The Bendigo Races host around 23 meetings per season, with the premiere event, the Bendigo Cup, a significant lead up race to the Melbourne Cup.

The track is an oblong shape, with a back and front (home) straight of 400m – plus two large, sweeping turns.

Races up to 1,100m start in an elongated chute to the left if the course, which also joins into the left curve at mid point. There’s only a small amount of curve before the final straight.

While sticking to the rail is obviously inherently the shortest route home, runners will get their chance in the 400m straight, with the wide track at Bendigo very fair.

1000m & 1100m: Begin in a long chute to the left of the course. Have a straight run of around 250 metres to the first turn. They then head through the home straight of about 400m, leaving barriers of little to no importance.

1200m & 1400m: Begin on the course proper, down a long straight which heads into the first turn. The track is relatively fair, particularly coming into the final 400m, leaving barriers irrelevant.

1600m: Begins in a chute off of the course proper, with a straight run of 500m before the first turn. Runners then hit a curve, as they head into the final 400m home straight. Barriers are of no importance given both the distance, and the length of the straight. With a good long run to the firs turn, all horses irregardless of barriers, will have their chance to snag a position they like, and then after the turn will already be in the final straight.

2200m & 2400m: Begins at the beginning of the front straight and head past the finish post and grandstand, before hitting the first turn and into the back straight, where the 1600m chute joins the course proper. Barriers are of no importance considering the distance, and also the length of the three straights which are run throughout the course.

Bendigo Races Results

Getting to the Track

Here are the options on how to get to the Bendigo Races.

Train: If you want to head to the Bendigo Races by train, check out the Lancefield Line, from Melbourne Via Sunbury or Gisborn.

Bus: There are several buses that head to the Bendigo Races – including the Line five, or Goornong – Bendigo. You’re also able to catch the Bus from T1 (Domestic – Qantas) at the Melbourne Airport.

Car: If you want to drive to the Bendigo Races, it will probably take you close to two hours. The track is 152km away from the Melbourne CBD, and has a wide range of free parking.

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