Within Australia, the VRC has been operating as the premier racing club for the past 140 years. Based at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia, the Club plays host to the internationally renowned Lexus Melbourne Cup, and is regarded worldwide as a centre of racing excellence.

Each year in spring, historical Flemington Racecourse plays host to a carnival of thoroughbred racedays and each of these days is stamped with its own personality and individual appeal. The Melbourne Cup Carnival is one of Australia's most popular and successful sporting events.

The Melbourne Cup Carnival now transcends traditional sporting events with its unique combination of sport, fashion, entertainment, hospitality and business. With consistent growth in attendances by Club Members, corporate guests, public and media alike, the Melbourne Cup Carnival truly deserves the title as Australia's most popular sporting event as judged in a recent study by Sweeney & Associates.

Club Membership currently stands at an impressive 30,000. Whilst the Club demographics are skewed slightly towards higher net worth individuals and middle-upper level management, thoroughbred racing in Australia has a very broad appeal across many socio-economic groups.

Sponsorship at Flemington offers unique experiential branding opportunities and targeted communication channels. The Club boasts an impressive network of associations with companies participating in sponsorship and corporate hospitality including Lexus, AAMI, Kennedy, James' Boags, Myer, Yellowglen, Schweppes, G.H. Mumm, Lavazza, Herald Sun, Tabcorp and Channel 7.

Year-round opportunities

  • Race sponsorship 

    Race sponsorships are available at most racemeetings at Flemington throughout the racing season. Choose race sponsorship on one of our popular theme days such as Sofitel Girls Day Out in September, Melbourne Cup Carnival Preview Day in October or Super Saturday in March, or alternatively our Summer Racing Series in January and Winter Racing Series in June/July which provide great sponsorship opportunities.

    • Race sponsorship 

      Race sponsorships are available at most racemeetings at Flemington throughout the racing season. Choose race sponsorship on one of our popular theme days such as Sofitel Girls Day Out in September, Melbourne Cup Carnival Preview Day in October or Super Saturday in March, or alternatively our Summer Racing Series in January and Winter Racing Series in June/July which provide great sponsorship opportunities.

  • Raceday sponsorship

    Raceday sponsorships are also available allowing the sponsor raceday naming rights and the opportunity to name each race after one of your brands. Sponsors such as Western Health have reaped the benefits of combining a raceday sponsorship with a Corporate Function at Flemington.

    • Raceday sponsorship

      Raceday sponsorships are also available allowing the sponsor raceday naming rights and the opportunity to name each race after one of your brands. Sponsors such as Western Health have reaped the benefits of combining a raceday sponsorship with a Corporate Function at Flemington.

  • Benefits of race & raceday sponsorship

    All race and raceday sponsorships are specifically tailored to clients' requirements. Typical packages can include the following benefits:

    • Naming rights to a race or naming rights to the day and to all races on the program
    • On course signage and branding package
    • Advertising in the racebook and on the big screens at Flemington
    • Trophy presentation in the Mounting Yard
    • Television and radio coverage
    • Racename mention in various publications
    • Executive privileges
    • Framed memento
    • Invitations to VRC Events
    • Corporate function (at an additional cost)

    • Benefits of race & raceday sponsorship

      All race and raceday sponsorships are specifically tailored to clients' requirements. Typical packages can include the following benefits:

      • Naming rights to a race or naming rights to the day and to all races on the program
      • On course signage and branding package
      • Advertising in the racebook and on the big screens at Flemington
      • Trophy presentation in the Mounting Yard
      • Television and radio coverage
      • Racename mention in various publications
      • Executive privileges
      • Framed memento
      • Invitations to VRC Events
      • Corporate function (at an additional cost)

Melbourne Cup Carnival opportunities

  • Audience and media coverage

    Each spring historical Flemington Racecourse plays host to a carnival of exciting racedays with each of these days having its own personality and individual appeal. Known as the Melbourne Cup Carnival, it is Australia's premier sporting event and attracts attendance of approximately 400,000 people each year.

    Recently rated as Australia's most popular sporting event in a study by Sweeney & Associates, the Melbourne Cup Carnival now transcends traditional sporting events as a unique combination of sport, fashion, entertainment, hospitality and business.

    The Melbourne Cup Carnival is the ideal event to meet your sponsorship and corporate entertaining needs. Few events worldwide can boast attendances and media coverage of this calibre, and the Carnival's relaxed social atmosphere and spaced racing program creates the perfect environment for business networking.

    • Audience and media coverage

      Each spring historical Flemington Racecourse plays host to a carnival of exciting racedays with each of these days having its own personality and individual appeal. Known as the Melbourne Cup Carnival, it is Australia's premier sporting event and attracts attendance of approximately 400,000 people each year.

      Recently rated as Australia's most popular sporting event in a study by Sweeney & Associates, the Melbourne Cup Carnival now transcends traditional sporting events as a unique combination of sport, fashion, entertainment, hospitality and business.

      The Melbourne Cup Carnival is the ideal event to meet your sponsorship and corporate entertaining needs. Few events worldwide can boast attendances and media coverage of this calibre, and the Carnival's relaxed social atmosphere and spaced racing program creates the perfect environment for business networking.

  • Sponsorship packages

    A race sponsorship package during the Melbourne Cup Carnival typically incorporates race naming rights and trophy presentation, advertising exposure and media coverage, sponsor signage and various other branded items on course, executive privileges and corporate hospitality.

    Packages Price
    AAMI Victoria Derby Day Race From $100,000 + GST*
    Lexus Melbourne Cup Day Race From $100,000 + GST*
    Kennedy Oaks Day Race From $80,000 + GST*
    Emirates Stakes Day Race From $80,000 + GST*

    * Marquee and catering costs are additional to these costs  

    • Sponsorship packages

      A race sponsorship package during the Melbourne Cup Carnival typically incorporates race naming rights and trophy presentation, advertising exposure and media coverage, sponsor signage and various other branded items on course, executive privileges and corporate hospitality.

      Packages Price
      AAMI Victoria Derby Day Race From $100,000 + GST*
      Lexus Melbourne Cup Day Race From $100,000 + GST*
      Kennedy Oaks Day Race From $80,000 + GST*
      Emirates Stakes Day Race From $80,000 + GST*

      * Marquee and catering costs are additional to these costs  

VRC events & Club programs

The VRC conducts a number of events and Club programs both on and off-course to complement Flemington's racemeetings throughout the year. These provide companies with an opportunity to promote their product to a specific target market.

Events include:

  • Flemington Spring Fashion Lunch
  • Members' Spring Fashion Cocktail Party
  • Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour
  • VRC Kennedy Oaks Club Luncheon
  • Myer Fashions on the Field at Flemington
  • Stakes Day Fashions on the Field
  • Lexus Melbourne Cup Parade
  • Pin & Win Competition

Club Programs include:

  • Members' Benefit Program
  • VRC Racing Rewards Program
  • VRC Young Members Program
  • Junior Membership Program
  • Phar Lap Club
  • Flemington Green Fields Sustainability Program
  • Digital and Social Media platforms. 

Associate/Event Support Sponsorships during the Melbourne Cup Carnival start from approx. $50K + GST.

Feel free to contact us to discuss sponsorship opportunities further.

Contact us

For more information, phone the Customer Service Centre on 1300 727 575 or email customerservice@vrc.net.au