Major Developments in Australian Racing for 2025
The Australian horse racing scene is experiencing significant changes in 2025, with the most controversial being the potential sale of the historic Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Sydney. This $5 billion proposal would see the 140-year-old venue transformed into a housing development with 25,000 new homes.www.smh.com.au
The vote on this contentious sale was originally scheduled for April 3, 2025, but Racing NSW has intervened to delay it until May 12, citing concerns that Australian Turf Club members didn’t have sufficient information to make an informed decision.www.smh.com.au High-profile trainers including Gai Waterhouse and Chris Waller have vocally opposed the sale, with Waterhouse calling the postponement “outrageous and undemocratic.”aapnews.aap.com.au
Major Racing Events Calendar 2025
Melbourne Cup Carnival
The Melbourne Cup remains Australia’s premier horse racing event and will take place on the first Tuesday of November 2025 (November 4th) at Flemington Racecourse. The carnival includes:
- Victoria Derby Day (November 1, 2025)
- Melbourne Cup Day (November 4, 2025)
- Crown Oaks Day (November 6, 2025)
- Champions Stakes Day (November 8, 2025)
Other Major Races
- Australian Cup: Held on March 29, 2025, at Flemington with $2.5 million in prize money. Light Infantry Man claimed victory in this year’s race.www.vrc.com.au
- Lexus Roy Higgins: A Melbourne Cup qualifier held at Flemington on March 29, 2025. Last year’s winner was Mark Twain (NZ).www.vrc.com.au
- Tancred Stakes: This Group 1 race was won by international raider Dubai Honour at Rosehill on April 1, 2025, after being postponed due to weather.horseracing.com.au
Leading Horses to Watch in 2025
Several horses have established themselves as top contenders in Australian racing this year:
- Pride Of Jenni: Trained by Ciaron Maher, this seven-year-old mare returned from a brief retirement to win the Group 1 Peter Young Stakes and was favored in the Australian Cup before being upset by stablemate Light Infantry Man.
- Light Infantry Man: Trained by Ciaron Maher, this horse produced a stunning upset to win the 2025 Australian Cup at Flemington
- Middle Earth: A British-bred five-year-old who won his Australian debut in the Australian Cup Prelude, also trained by Ciaron Maher.horseracing.com.au
- I Am Maximus: Last year’s Grand National winner is among the leading contenders for the 2025 edition, trained by Willie Mullins for owner JP McManus.www.bbc.com
- Treasurethe Moment: Won seven straight races including the 2025 Vinery Stud Stakes
- Dubai Honour: William Haggas’s international star added another Australian Group 1 victory to his record, winning the rescheduled 2025 Tancred Stakes at Rosehill. horseracing.com.au
- Deny Knowledge: Impressive winner for Team Freedman who has shown strong form at Caulfield.www.justhorseracing.com.au
Current Racing Landscape
The 2025 racing season has been impacted by weather conditions, with some meetings being postponed due to rain, including the Tancred Stakes Day at Rosehill which was moved to April 1st.horseracing.com.au
Ciaron Maher has emerged as one of the dominant trainers of the season, with multiple horses competing at the highest level, including the trifecta of top betting choices in the Australian Cup with Pride Of Jenni, Middle Earth and Light Infantry Man.www.vrc.com.au
Racing Queensland has published its full calendar for 2025, with events scheduled across various tracks including Doomben, Albion Park, and Rockhampton throughout the year.www.racingqueensland.com.au
As the 2025 season progresses, all eyes will be on the Melbourne Cup qualifiers and the ongoing controversy surrounding the potential sale of Rosehill Gardens, which could reshape the future of Australian racing for generations to come.
