Victoria Derby

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The Victoria Derby is Race Six on the first day of Melbourne's annual Spring Racing Carnival, Victorian Derby Day, held at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne. It marks the beginning of Melbourne Cup Week. Victoria Derby Day is traditionally held on the Saturday prior to Melbourne Cup Day, which is the first Tuesday in November every year. The Victoria Derby was first run in 1855.

Traditionally a day for racing purists, the Victoria Derby Day is considered one of the most prestigious days in the Australian racing calendar. It is also the only all-Group race-day in Australia - in 2005 offering a staggering $4.1 million in prize money over nine group races. Race Six on the card - the Victoria Derby - is a classic Group 1 staying test for 3 year olds over 2500m.

While the major focus of the day is the stars of the turf, in recent years the annual 'Fashions on the Field' celebrations have shared the limelight. 'Derby Day' has become 'Mens day' in the Fashion Stakes, and every year increasing numbers of fashionable gentlemen competing for prizes and a spot in the social columns. Traditionally Black & White are worn on this day. The flower of the day is a Cornflower.

In 2006 a crowd of over 129,000 broke the flemington crowd record previously held by Melbourne Cup day 2003.