More Than 300,000 Flock to Flemington for Biggest Melbourne Cup Carnival Since 2017

The attendance result, the biggest Stakes Day crowd since 2012, reinforced the Melbourne Cup Carnival's status as the world's largest racing carnival by attendance, while all four race days ranked as the four highest-attended race meetings in Australia in 2026. 

Providing a fitting finale to the Melbourne Cup Carnival, some of the world’s best thoroughbreds delivered a thrilling 90 minutes of elite racing at Flemington.

Mark Zahra produced a masterclass aboard Point Barrow, guiding the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained galloper to victory in the Group 1 VRC Champions Sprint (1200m) after an exciting duel with Plaintiff, ridden by Jordan Childs. 

Short-priced favourite and Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year, Autumn Glow lived up to expectations in the Group 1 VRC Champions Mile (1200m), with James McDonald steering the Chris Waller-trained star to a commanding win. Waller also completed a remarkable trifecta, with Lindermann and Buckaroo filling the placings. 

Chris Waller’s dominance continued in the TAB Champions Stakes, securing a fourth consecutive victory in the race as Ben Melham partnered Birdman to success.  

James McDonald secured his sixth Ron Hutchison Award as the Melbourne Cup Carnival's leading jockey, finishing with six winners. Scored on a 3-2-1 basis across 37 races, McDonald topped the leaderboard with 25 points, ahead of Mark Zahra in second place on 18 points and Blake Shinn on 17 points. 

Trainer Chris Waller capped off a sensational week to claim his sixth J B Cummings Award for leading trainer of the Melbourne Cup Carnival with 35 points. Lexus Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Ciaron Maher finished second on 20 points, with the training trio of Ben, JD and Will Hayes taking third on 15 points. 

The world-famous Birdcage Enclosure hosted an array of well-known faces, including racing royalty Kate Waterhouse and mother Gai Waterhouse at Lexus, CEO Gill McLachlan in the TAB marquee, netballers Rudi Ellis and Hannah Mundy at Nine and Olympian Annabelle Smith at G.H. Mumm. DJ Fisher also made an appearance in the Birdcage alongside wife Chloe Fisher before his performance after the last.    

A new chapter began today in the Melbourne Cup Carnival Fashions on the Field with The Remix presented by Rack It Club making its debut in the famous week. A concept that champions re-worn, re-worked, and re-styled racewear, The Remix invited racegoers to reinterpret and modernise traditional racewear in both the Best Dressed & Best Suited competitions, with individuality and creativity as the key elements the judges were looking for. 

Highlighting the esteemed judging panel was founders of Rack It Club Alice James & Kelsey Monaghan alongside hairdresser to the stars and owner of Eleven Australia Joey Scandizzo, and stylist Melina Bagnato. 

The inaugural winner of The Remix Best Suited was former Chicago resident, now Sydney local Rob Lee, who, after coming so close during the week, finally tasted success on the final day—wearing a suit from a local op shop in Sydney, where proceeds benefit the less fortunate in the area. Rob paired his shoes that were from Chicago with some additional pieces of fabric from his wife’s personal collection from home. 

Townsville’s Marnie Davidson became the first person to add her name to the honour roll for The Remix Best Dressed, with a look that took months to create, including a redesign of some award-winning millinery from last year, paired with a purchased ball gown she repatched herself. 

Victoria Racing Club Chief Executive Kylie Rogers said TAB Champions Stakes Day was a fitting conclusion to another outstanding Melbourne Cup Carnival.  

"The 2026 Melbourne Cup Carnival has once again demonstrated why it is one of the world's great sporting events, and the biggest racing carnival in the world, with more than 300,000 racegoers attending across the four days, marking our largest Carnival crowd since 2017,” Ms Rogers said.

Today's racing was a fitting finale to the Carnival, with outstanding Group 1 performances. Congratulations to the connections of Point Barrow on winning the VRC Champions Sprint, Autumn Glow on claiming the VRC Champions Mile, and Birdman on victory in the TAB Champions Stakes. 

It has been a remarkable week at Flemington, combining elite racing with the very best of food, fashion and entertainment. We thank our members, racegoers, partners, participants and the thousands of people who have helped deliver another unforgettable Melbourne Cup Carnival."