Australian Cup Carnival 2025

Three UNMISSABLE nights of racing and entertainment

Five massive Group 1 Races, culminating with the Australian Cup Final on night three, offers something for everyone across this year’s Australian Cup Carnival. Dining, cheering and partying at The Meadows race track has never been this exciting and easy to do with so many unique activations to enjoy.

Explore what’s on each of the nights in this three week UNMISSABLE Cup Carnival below.

The 'Party' Deck & UNMISSABLE MG Punter's Club: Saturday Feb 8

Dine, Cheer or Party the night away on the Party Deck as we step back to when drinks were cheap and Punter's Club ruled.

PARTY & PUNT– ON THE 'PARTY' DECK
> Punters Club - $10 a share - includes bonus prizes and giveaways.
> $5 Beer and Ciders all night (Plus other beverage specials)
> Pop-up Pizzeria, serving $10 pizzas
> DJ music & entertainment between races
> Indoor and outdoor spaces to sit and relax in the twilight
> NO BOOKING REQUIRED

DINE in the City View Bistro
> Bistro Dining Menu (Reservation Required)
> Live music performer
> Exclusive wagering facilities
> Access to all on-course activations
> FREE Track Entry & Racebook

CHEER – WORLD-CLASS GREYHOUND RACING
> Temlee (Group 1 - 525m Invitational)
> Zoom Top (Group 1 - 730m Invitational)
> Australian Cup G1 Heats

BOOK THE BISTRO

UNMISSABLE Family Fun: Saturday Feb 15

Always a moving feast of entertainment options, our first family night for 2025, will again, be an UNMISSABLE occasion. There's prizes to win, games to play and heaps of great value food to savour! See what's planned on the list below.

FREE FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT
> Inflatable Jumping Castles & Games
> FREE Face Painting
> Magician Show
> FREE Carnival Snack Foods
> UNMISSABLE Family Prize Draw
> FREE 'I Love the Dogs' Showbags (First 300 children)
> Cuddle and pat a GAP Dog
> Coffee & Beverages Van & Food Trucks
> City View Bistro dining
> and more

DINING
> Join us in the City View Bistro for UNMISSABLE family dining. Children's meals are only $10 each and there is a wonderful selection of delicious meals to choose from, as well as city skyline and track views. (Table reservations required)

CUP CARNIVAL RACING
> Australian Cup Semi-finals
> Fanta Bale Heats
> Rookie Rebel Prelude

BOOK THE BISTRO

Local Sports Clubs Night & UNMISSABLE Australian Cup Dining: Saturday Feb 22

Be part of all the UNMISSABLE live race action and entertainment as we crown three Group 1 winners on the night, including the Australian Cup Champion for 2025.

DINE – IN THE 'TEMLEE' DINING ROOM
> UNMISSABLE Australian Cup Night Dining from only $49 per person (4-hour unlimited beverage service available for an additional cost or drinks at bar prices)
> Live music & entertainment
> Exclusive wagering facilities
> Access to all on-course activations
> FREE Track Entry & Racebook

CHEER – HOME THE NEXT SET OF GREYHOUND CHAMPIONS
> Australian Cup (Group 1 – 525m Final) (and Consolation)
> Fanta Bale (Group 1 – 730m Final)
> Rookie Rebel (Group 1 – 600m Invitational)
> GRV Vicbred Maiden Series (Final)

PARTY – AT OUR 'SPORTS CLUB NIGHT'
Earn your Club a $1K donation. All you need to do is turn up with 10 people from your club, dressed in your club’s colours and your sporting club walks away with $1000! Plus, win more in our 'Cheer your Chaser' Race Activation.

To join the party please send us an 'Expression of Interest' on behalf of your club by using our website form (button link below) to go in the ballot for an invitation. IF chosen, it's just a matter of getting 10 people kitted up and attending to earn your $1,000 donation. This event will take place on 'The Deck' and includes one free drink per guest and roving canapés across the night.

EXPRESS YOUR INTEREST

UNMISSABLE Party & Punting

Week one of our UNMISSABLE Australian Cup Carnival offers the chance to Party and Punt!

Come watch the speedsters of the track go around in The Australian Cup heats the Group 1 Temlee and Zoom Top Invitationals up on The Meadows 'Party Deck'. Sip on ice-cold $5 beer and ciders all night.

Enjoy a flash back to turn of century beverage prices, and heaps of fun as we bring back the 'Punters Club'. Just $10 gets you a share in the pool (as well as access to giveaways and prizes) as we put our faith in a punting specialist and strap in for the thrilling ride. No ticket or entry required. Simply roll up and buy your share on the night.

An UNMISSABLE three week Cup Carnival for all to enjoy

The new look Australian Cup Carnival race format from last year rolls out again, reigniting and repositioning Australia’s most prestigious greyhound racing carnival.

The Prestige, The History, The Prizemoney; The Australian Cup is a race that trainers and owners all want to win. This year, the Australian Cup builds on last year’s three-week race event with opportunities aplenty across the carnival, offering up five Group 1’s across three consecutive weeks in February. The 2025 Australian Cup Carnival promises to be more UNMISSABLE than ever before.

Cup Carnival Details

DATES: Saturday Nights – February 8, 15 & 22
TIME: Gates open each night from 5:30pm
COST: FREE General Admission across all race nights
RACING PROGRAM: See details below

RACE CONDITIONS

The 2024 Australian Cup Carnival shifted to a new and exciting race program last year. Here's what people thought of the move.

READ THE TRAINERS THOUGHTS

A rich history of UNMISSABLE racing

Of all the feature greyhound races held across Victoria each year, none have quite the same level of prestige as the Australian Cup.

First run in 1958, the first Australian Cup winner was the now much heralded champion Rookie Rebel (1958). The race was run and won at the Arden Street Oval track in North Melbourne. The initial First prize was 1600 pounds which has grown significantly with the 2024 edition of the race now carrying a $300,000 winner’s purse.

Notable winners include race record holder Brett Lee (2001), Blackamoor Lad (1972), Tangaloa (1980) Royal Rumpus (1982) back-to-back winner China Trip (1992-93) and more recently, Fanta Bale (2017), Tommy Shelby (2021), 2023 winner Fernando Mick and 2024 winner Tim Zoo

2024 Australian Cup winner Tim Zoo with connections