Victoria Derby Betting

The Victoria Derby is the first major race of the Spring Racing Carnival. Run as the highlight of Derby Day, the Victoria Derby has for many years equalled the Melbourne Cup in the popularity stakes.

Over the last decade the Victoria Derby has drawn the biggest crowds out of any race in the Spring Racing Carnival, and holds the crowd record of 129,000 for Flemington racecourse. This may have to do with the fact that the Victoria Derby is the first Spring Racing Carnival race to be run on a Saturday.

The Victoria Derby is one of the key fashion events of the Spring Racing Carnival. On Derby Day the emphasis is on men’s fashion, with spectators expected to don morning suits, whilst women are expected to dress in more conservative black and white colours.

The Victoria Derby is the oldest Group One race in Australia and was first run in 1855. The race is run over a distance of 2500 meters on Flemington racecourse. Open to 3 year old thoroughbreds, the Victoria Derby carries a purse of A$1,5 million.

Victoria Derby Winners

Some of the greatest thoroughbreds in the history of Australian racing have won the Victoria Derby during their careers. In 2004 the Victoria Racing Club held a poll to establish the greatest Victoria Derby winner, and the legendary Phar Lap emerged as a clear favourite.

In recent years trainers have struggled to come close to the achievements of legendary trainer James Scobie. Between 1900 and 1937, Scobie put together a string of eight Victoria Derby wins, including five wins in the first decade of the last century.

Working with James Scobie was another Victoria Derby legend. From 1900 to 1927, jockey Bobbie Lewis rode eight Victoria Derby winners, six of which came from James Scobie’s stables. In contrast the past three decades have seen no jockey claim more than three Victoria Derby wins.

Victoria Derby Betting

Victoria Derby betting will revolve around taking advantage of high ante-post odds in the months leading up to the race. The Victoria Derby betting markets should be taken as a reliable indication of racehorses’ prospects on Derby Day.

Punters are advised to take advantage of early odds, as Victoria Derby odds tend to contract as a definite pecking order is established on the Victoria Derby odds tables.