Orr Stakes caps off successful spring carnival

The 2025 Caulfield Spring Racing season closed in spectacular fashion after the C.F. Orr Stakes Day on Saturday.

It was the first time the Orr Stakes had been held in Spring, after shifting from its previous February slot, slotting in perfectly to close out a successful Spring Racing Carnival. Across more than a month of Group 1 racing, sold-out race days and vibrant crowds marked the most successful spring season since COVID, with one of the biggest days coming on Sportsbet Caulfield Cup Day and Everest Day where more than 78,000 fans across two cities flocked to a brilliant day of racing.

With much focus on young crowds flocking to spring racing, Caulfield rode the wave of the sport's resurgence at the Caulfield Cup with a 23 per cent increase in General Admission, female attendance soaring by 49 per cent and 32 per cent of attendees aged 25 and under, underscoring racing's renewed appeal to younger and more diverse audiences. The Cup provided a genuine highlight of the carnival, making history with Half Yours winning the Caulfield Cup en route to the Melbourne Cup making Jamie Melham the first female jockey and just the 13th overall to win the Caulfield-Melbourne double.

2025 was Sportsbet's second year as Caulfield Cup naming rights partner, with the Caulfield Cup playing a key role in redefining Australian racing.

Sportsbet Chief Commercial Officer Nathan Arundell hailed the successful racing season in both Melbourne and Sydney as "an iconic movement for racing," proving tradition and innovation can coexist.

"Racing needs new fans, and there's nowhere we're seeing that more than on Caulfield Cup/Everest Day," Mr Arundell said.

"Racing needs new fans, and there's nowhere we're seeing that more than on Caulfield Cup/Everest Day"

"Thousands of young fans flocked to the track for what I believe has become an iconic day of racing, and a very encouraging sign for the future of the sport."

"This success doesn't just magically happen, and it is a testament to the industry collaboration that we are driving new generations to racing. For the Caulfield Cup and The Everest to complement each other so well shows what is possible when tradition meets innovation."

While Caulfield and Randwick showcased the best that Victorian and NSW racing has to offer, Mr Arundell said it was important to continue to invest in racing around the country to ensure a vibrant future.

"To see racing fans flock to the course rain, hail or shine is a delight for Sportsbet as a key partner of the Melbourne Racing Club and we would love to explore further options to invest in racing right around the country," Mr Arundell said.

"To see racing fans flock to the course rain, hail or shine is a delight for Sportsbet as a key partner of the Melbourne Racing Club and we would love to explore further options to invest in racing right around the country"