The Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival is traditionally held in February and March each year and revolves around the Victoria Racing Club which races at Flemington, the Melbourne Racing Club which races at Caulfield, and the Moonee Valley Racing Club which hosts racing at Moonee Valley.

The autumn carnival in Melbourne is not as high profile as the spring, but it does include a number of major Group 1 races, including the first leg of the 2008 Global Sprint Challenge, the $500,000 Lightning Stakes(1000m) at Flemington racecourse on January 31st.

The MRC hosts its major race for the autumn on February 21st when the Gr1 $2 Million Blue Diamond Stakes(1200m) takes place at Caulfield racecourse for two-year-olds, while the MVRC hosts the $400,000 Gr1 Australia Stakes(1200m WFA) on February 14th at Moonee Valley racecourse.

The VRC hosts the final meeting of the carnival at Flemington with Super Saturday and features three Group 1's which are the $1 Million Australian Cup(2000m), the $750,000 Australian Guineas(1600m) and the $1 Million Newmarket Handicap(1200m). Super Saturday features three Group 1 races, two Group 2 races. two Group 3 races, and is rated one of the best race days on the Australian calendar.

Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival Guide

---

Thursday 1st January 2009 - Flemington - Standish Handicap Day
Status	Race Name	Prizemoney	Distance	Race Type
Gr 3	Standish Handicap	$200,000	1200m	Open Hcp
Saturday 10th January 2009 - Caulfield - Rubiton Stakes Day
Status	Race Name	Prizemoney	Distance	Race Type
Gr 3	Rubiton Stakes	$100,000	1100m	Weight-for-age
Gr 3	Geoffrey Belmaine Stakes	$100,000	1100m	Mares SW+P
Friday 23rd January 2009 - Moonee Valley - Carlyon Stakes Day
Status	Race Name	Prizemoney	Distance	Race Type
Gr 2	Carlyon Stakes	$175,000	1200m	Weight-for-age
Saturday 31st January 2009 - Flemington - Lightning Stakes Day
Status	Race Name	Prizemoney	Distance	Race Type
Gr 1	Lightning Stakes	$500,000	1000m	Weight-for-age
Gr 3	CS Hayes Stakes	$200,000	1200m	3yoC&G SW+P
Gr 3	The Vanity	$200,000	1200m	3yoF SW+P
Saturday 7th February 2009 - Caulfield - CF Orr Stakes Day
Status	Race Name	Prizemoney	Distance	Race Type
Gr 1	CF Orr Stakes	$300,000	1400m	Weight-for-age
Gr 3	Blue Diamond Prelude (C&G)	$125,000	1100m	2yoC&G SW
Gr 3	Blue Diamond Prelude (F)	$125,000	1100m	2yoF SW
Saturday 14th February 2009 - Moonee Valley - Australia Stakes Day
Status	Race Name	Prizemoney	Distance	Race Type
Gr 1	Australia Stakes	$400,000	1200m	Weight-for-age
Gr 2	Moonee Valley Fillies Classic	$200,000	1500m	3yoF SW
Gr 2	Alister Clark Stakes	$175,000	1600m	3yoC&G SW+P
Gr 2	Sunline Stakes	$175,000	1600m	F&M WFA
Saturday 21st February 2009 - Caulfield - Blue Diamond Stakes Day
Status	Race Name	Prizemoney	Distance	Race Type
Gr 1	Blue Diamond Stakes	$1,000,000	1200m	2yo SW
Gr 1	Oakleigh Plate	$350,000	1100m	Open Hcp
Gr 2	St George Stakes	$200,000	1800m	Weight-for-age
Gr 2	Autumn Stakes	$125,000	1400m	3yo SW+P
Gr 3	Carlyon Cup	$150,000	1400m	Open SW+P
Gr 3	Mannerism Stakes	$125,000	1400m	Mares SW+P
Saturday 28th February 2009 - Caulfield - Futurity Stakes Day
Status	Race Name	Prizemoney	Distance	Race Type
Gr 1	Futurity Stakes	$700,000	1600m	Weight-for-age
Gr 2	Angus Armanasco Stakes	$175,000	1400m	3yoF SW
Saturday 7th March 2009 - Flemington - Super Saturday of Racing
Status	Race Name	Prizemoney	Distance	Race Type
Gr 1	Newmarket Handicap	$1,000,000	1200m	Open Hcp
Gr 1	Australian Cup	$1,000,000	2000m	Weight-for-age
Gr 1	Australian Guineas	$750,000	1600m	3yo SW
Gr 2	VRC Sires Produce Stakes	$300,000	1400m	2yo SW
Gr 2	Kewney Stakes	$300,000	1600m	3yoF SW
Gr 3	Thoroughbred Breeders Stks	$150,000	1200m	2yoF SW
Gr 3	Frances Tressady Stakes	$150,000	1400m	Mares SW+P
Saturday 14th March 2009 - Flemington - Blamey Stakes Day
Status	Race Name	Prizemoney	Distance	Race Type
Gr 2	Blamey Stakes	$350,000	1600m	Open SW+P
Gr 3	Matron Stakes	$150,000	1600m	Mares SW+P
Saturday 11th April 2009 - Caulfield - Easter Cup Day
Status	Race Name	Prizemoney	Distance	Race Type
Gr 3	Easter Cup	$100,000	2000m	Open Hcp
Gr 3	Victoria Handicap	$100,000	1400m	Open Hcp

---

Other Australian Racing Carnivals

Melbourne spring racing carnival
Sydney spring racing carnival
Sydney autumn racing carnival
Brisbane winter racing carnival
Adelaide racing carnival
Perth racing carnival
Gold Coast Magic Millions racing carnival

---

Legend
2yo: Two-year-old
2yoC&G: Two-year-old Colts and Geldings
2yoF: Two-year-old Fillies
2yo&Up: Two-year-old horses and Upwards
3yo: Three-year-old
3yoC&G: Three-year-old Colts and Geldings
3yoF: Three-year-old Fillies
3yo&Up: Three-year-old an upwards
F&M: Fillies and Mares
Mares: Four-year-old and up female horses
SW+Pen: Set Weights + Penalty
Open Hcp: Open Handicap
Qlty Hcp: Quality Handicap
WFA: Weight-for-age
Gr 1: Group 1 race
Gr 2: Group 2 race
Gr 3: Group 3 race
LR: Listed race