Flemington and the Victoria Racing Club have seen off a determined bid from the Melbourne Racing Club and Caulfield to win the rights to host the 2026 Cox Plate.
The Moonee Valley Racing Club has been searching for a replacement venue for the famous weight-for-age race next year as it undergoes a massive renovation which will see it close for at least 21 months after this year’s edition of the race.
It and the VRC came to an agreement recently and the move has now been ratified by the Racing Victoria board.
Among the key considerations for RV and MVRC during the expression of interest process were the wagering, attendance, engagement and commercial implications of the venue transfer.
“We believe that Flemington is the best location to maximise attendance, wagering and engagement with the meeting and we have confidence in the VRC’s ability to present a high-quality track for Ladbrokes Cox Plate Day and the four-day Melbourne Cup Carnival that follows,” Racing Victoria CEO Aaron Morrison said.
“We thank the MVRC for their work in exploring various options for the 2026 Ladbrokes Cox Plate in light of The Valley’s redevelopment and for tabling an informative recommendation for our Board to consider and ultimately endorse.
“We thank all Clubs and commercial partners that were involved in submitting bids to the MVRC and congratulate the VRC and their partners on a successful bid.”
VRC Chief Executive, Michael Browell, described the decision as ‘historic’.
“The MVRC is excited that the 2026 Ladbrokes Cox Plate will be held at Flemington, marking a historic occasion as the first time the race has been run at a different track. The MVRC looks forward to partnering with the VRC to create an exceptional event for members of both clubs and racegoers as we showcase Australia’s Best Race at Flemington,” he said.
“I’d also like to thank all the clubs who took part in the Expression of Interest process for their hard work and dedication in preparing their submissions, along with Racing Victoria for their support with the transferred meetings during The Valley’s redevelopment.”
Six months ago, the Melbourne Racing Club was set to win the rights, with an impasse over advertising and sponsorship rights believed to be a sticking point in a possible move to Flemington.
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But VRC CEO Kylie Rogers and her team put Flemington back in the picture in the past few months as major wagering sponsor Tabcorp is believed to have dropped its objections to the Ladbrokes branding around the MVRC feature raceday.
“It is an honour for the VRC to be named as hosts of the 2026 Cox Plate at Flemington Racecourse. This will be an historic occasion, bringing tens of thousands of Australians together to enjoy the day,” Rogers said.
“We thank Racing Victoria, the Moonee Valley Racing Club and our commercial partners for their collaboration and can’t wait to see the collective vision for a Cox Plate at Flemington come to life.
“It sets the scene for an unforgettable spring at Flemington, where the world’s best come together.”
The Saturday, October 24 2026 meeting will feature a nine-race program with MVRC and VRC members both having access to Flemington on Cox Plate Day.
