The race is named after the Maribyrnong River, which is in close proximity to the Flemington racetrack. The river has often flooded the racetrack as was the case in 1974[2] and 2014.[3]
Prior to 1995 as well as 2007–08 the race was held on the first day of the VRC Spring Carnival, Victoria Derby Day.
The VRC Champions Stakes, registered as the LKS Mackinnon Stakes, is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race run under Weight for Age conditions over a distance of 2000 metres at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia on the last day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, the Saturday after the Melbourne Cup. Total prize money is A$3,000,000.
The Victoria Derby, also known as the Penfolds Victoria Derby, is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held under Set Weights conditions over a distance of 2,500 metres at Flemington Racecourse, in Melbourne, Australia scheduled annually on the first day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival. Total prize money for the race is A$2,000,000.
The Craven Plate is an Australian Turf Club Group 3 Thoroughbred horse race run over 2,000 metres, under Weight for Age conditions for three-year-olds and older, at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, Australia. Total prize money for the race is A$750,000.
The Victoria Racing Club Oaks, is a Victoria Racing Club (VRC) Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies, run under set weights conditions, over 2,500 metres at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia on the third day of the VRC Spring Carnival, the Thursday after the Melbourne Cup in early November. Total prize money for the race is A$1,000,000
The Australian Cup is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for horses three years old and older, held under Weight for Age conditions, over a distance of 2000 metres, at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia in March during the VRC Autumn Racing Carnival. Total prize money for the race is A$3,000,000.
The Champions Sprint, registered as the Victoria Racing Club Stakes, is a Victoria Racing Club Group One Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged three years old and over, under weight for age conditions, over a distance of 1200 metres held at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia on the last day of the VRC Spring Carnival. Total prize money for the race is A$3,000,000.
The Newmarket Handicap is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred open handicap horse race over a distance of 1200 metres, at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia on Super Saturday in March during the VRC Autumn Racing Carnival. Prize money is A$1,500,000.
The VRC St Leger is a Listed Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds, run at set weights with penalties, over a distance of 2800 metres at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia on ANZAC Day.
The VRC Champions Mile, registered as the Cantala Stakes, is a Group 1 Victoria Racing Club quality handicap Thoroughbred horse race run over 1,600 metres at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia on the fourth and last day during the Melbourne Cup Carnival. Total prize money is A$3,000,000
The Oakleigh Plate is a Melbourne Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred open handicap horse race, run over a distance of 1100 metres at Caulfield Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia in late February. Total prize money is A$750,000.
The Coolmore Stud Stakes, registered as the Ascot Vale Stakes, is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds, at set weights, run over 1200 metres at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia, on Victoria Derby Day. Total prize money is A$2,000,000.
The Wakeful Stakes is a Victoria Racing Club Group 2 Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies, run under set weights with penalties conditions, over 2,000 metres at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia on Victoria Derby Day. Total prize money for the race is A$300,000.
The Sires' Produce Stakes is a Victoria Racing Club Group 2 Thoroughbred horse race for two-year-olds, run at set weights, over a distance of 1400 metres, at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia in March during the VRC Autumn Racing Carnival. The total prize money is A$300,000.
The Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes is a Victoria Racing Club Group 3 Thoroughbred horse race for fillies aged two years old, run at set weights with penalties, over a distance of 1200 metres. It is held at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia in March during the VRC Autumn Racing Carnival. Total prize money for the race is A$200,000.
The Danehill Stakes is a Victoria Racing Club Group 2 Thoroughbred horse race held at set weights conditions, with penalties, for horses aged three years old over a distance of 1100 metres. It is held annually at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia in October. Total prizemoney for the race is A$300,000.
The Chatham Stakes is a registered Victoria Racing Club Group 3 Thoroughbred open handicap horse race raced as the Paramount+ Chatham Stakes, over a distance of 1400 metres held annually at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia during the VRC Spring Racing Carnival. Total prize money for the race is A$200,000 and $1,500 trophy.
The Karrakatta Plate is a Perth Racing Group 2 Thoroughbred horse race for two-year-olds, run at set weights, over a distance of 1200 metres at Ascot Racecourse, Perth, Western Australia in April. Total prize money is A$500,000.
The Frank Packer Plate is an Australian Turf Club Group 3 Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds at set weights run over a distance of 2000 metres at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, Australia during the Autumn Carnival. Total prizemoney is A$200,000
The Ottawa Stakes, is a Victoria Racing Club Group 3 Australian Thoroughbred horse race for two-year-old fillies, run at set weights, over a distance of 1,000 metres at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia in November during the VRC Spring Racing Carnival on Melbourne Cup day. Total prizemoney is A$200,000.
The Breeders' Plate is an Australian Turf Club Group 3 Thoroughbred horse race, for two-year-old colts and geldings, held with set weight conditions, over a distance of 1000 metres at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Australia in early October. Total prize money for the race is A$200,000.
Litery reference. Mention made in Rudyard Kipling's The Broken Link Handicap in Plain Tales From The Hills.
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