The Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival is the name of a Melbourne, Australia Thoroughbred horse racing series held annually during September to November highlighted by the 156th running of the time-honoured Melbourne Cup on the first Tuesday in November. It brings together the very best of Australian and International thoroughbreds for 50 days of world-class horse racing action. The whole event has a carnival like atmosphere which brings the city of Melbourne to life during spring carnival time. Although Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival in Australia is held every day except Good Friday and Christmas Day, the Group One races in Melbourne are held almost exclusively throughout the carnival, which is traditionally placed between the football and cricket seasons. During the winter (where football is dominant), and summer (where cricket is dominant), racing takes a 'back seat' position in relation to the cricket or football in terms of media coverage and attendances, however in spring and autumn, the mass media turns its attention to the racing. There is also a Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival, a time where Group One races are also held.

The 2016 Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival you will find feature race dates for all Group 1, Group 2 & Group 3 races in Melbourne during the spring.

In the groups of Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival, feature event is the Group 1 race is the $400,000 Memsie Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday 27th August 2016, while the 'race that stops a nation', the $6,200,000 (3200 Meters) Group 1 Melbourne Cup, will be held under handicap conditions on Tuesday 1st November 2016 at Flemington racecourse.

Other major spring races include the $3,000,000 Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield on Saturday 15th October 2016 and the $3,000,000 Group 1 W.S. Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday 22nd October 2016 at Moonee Valley.

Here is the major races schedule for the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival 2016:-

Caulfield Cup Spring Racing Carnival 2016: Caulfield hosts some great racing over the Caulfield Spring Racing Carnival including four Group 1 races on Saturday 8th October.

Emirates Melbourne Cup Carnival 2016: The Melbourne Cup is run the first Tuesday in November at the Flemington Racecourse over the gruelling distance of 3200 metres (2 miles). In 2016 the race is being held on Tuesday 1 November.

WS Cox Plate 2016: Moonee Valley racecourse is most famous for its Weight-for-Age race, the $3 million WS Cox Plate held on Saturday 22nd October over 2040m.

AAMI Victoria Derby 2016: The Group 1 $1.5 million AAMI Victoria Derby is held on the Saturday before the Melbourne Cup, which this year is Saturday 29th October.

Crown Oaks Day 2016: Thursday after the Melbourne Cup (two days after the Cup) sees the Group 1 $1 million Crown Oaks Day at Flemington racecourse, better known as "Ladies Day".

Emirates Stakes Day 2016: The Group 1 $2 million Emirates Stakes Day, is held on the Saturday following the Victoria Crown Oaks, this year on Saturday 5th November and traditionally has been known as 'Family Day'.

Sandown Spring Racing Carnival 2016: The last official meeting of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival is at Sandown Racecourse and is Sandown Cup Day and occurs this year on Saturday 12th November.

So if you are looking for a bang for your buck in Melbourne racing, join our man in Melbourne Pete Brinky Melbourne Racing at iTipsports or if you want to sample us for a period then join our FREE 2016 Caulfield cup tips and have a look.