About the Australian Racing Museum

The Australian Racing Museum & Hall of Fame is dedicated to telling the stories of thoroughbred racing in Australia and preserving the sport's rich history.

Mission

To stimulate awareness, understanding and enjoyment of the nation’s thoroughbred racing heritage and conserve, develop, research, interpret and promote the Australian Racing Museum Collection.

The Museum’s objectives are:

  • To ensure that the history and culture of thoroughbred racing is recorded and preserved for future generations of Australians.
  • To provide Australian communities with access to Australia’s racing history and culture.
  • To engage and educate traditional, future and potential racing fans.
  • To interpret and contextualise the impact of racing on Australian society.
  • To take thoroughbred horseracing to the widest possible audience: allowing people to access the sport anywhere, anytime.
  • To increase the understanding and appreciation of the thoroughbred horse.
History

In 1974 Lady Kathleen Clarke and Mr Bill Adams convened the Victorian Racing Museum Committee, comprising representatives from contributing bodies of the Victoria Racing Club, Victoria Amateur Turf Club, Moonee Valley Racing Club and Country Racing Council. Two years later, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II agreed to act as Official Patron and on 29 September 1981, during a Royal Visit to Australia, she officially opened the Victorian Racing Museum at Caulfield Racecourse.

In 1998 the Museum changed its name to the Australian Racing Museum. Moving to a city-centre location, Champions – the Australian Racing Museum and Hall of Fame was officially opened on 1 July 2004 by His Excellency the Governor-General, Major-General Michael Jeffery at Federation Square, where it remained for a five year period.

Champions Thoroughbred Racing Gallery, opened in the National Sports Museum at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 30 September 2010, on the eve of the Spring Racing Carnival and the celebrations surrounding the 150th running of the Melbourne Cup.

In 2014 the Museum received Accreditation through Museums Australia (Victoria), aligning procedures, policies and practice with the National Standards for Australian Museums and Galleries.

A major refresh of the Australian Sports Museum (formerly National Sports Museum) throughout 2019 saw our gallery relaunched in Feb 2020 as the Horse Racing Gallery.  Innovative interactives allow guests to race their own horse, explore the stories of our Australian Racing Hall of Fame inductees and celebrate both the champions and everyday heroes of Australian Thoroughbred Racing.

Collection

The Australian Racing Museum holds a collection of national significance which is recognised both for its depth and its breadth. It documents significant events in Australia’s racing history, recording the feats of many horses, jockeys, trainers, owners and administrators.

It also documents the role of others associated with thoroughbred racing, including veterinarians, broadcasters, photographers, journalists, fashion designers and milliners, to illustrate the importance of the racing industry in Australia’s economy and society.

The Museum’s charter to preserve, interpret and exhibit thoroughbred racing’s history ensures that this distinctive area of Australia’s history will be available for future generations.

If you have an item that you would like the Museum to consider for its collection, please contact us by telephone (03 9258 4269) or email (contact@racingmuseum.com.au).

Click here to view our collections policy

The Museum Acquisition Committee assesses donation offers on a case by case basis against the Museum’s Collection Policy. Further information on an item is always appreciated, including the history of the object before it came into your care and information about the object itself: Who used the object, where, when and what for?

The Australian Racing Museum is a not for profit organisation, and is eligible to receive donations under the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program.

Copyright
The Australian Racing Museum and Hall of Fame recognises the intellectual property rights of others. Every reasonable effort has been made to locate, contact and acknowledge copyright owners for material used by the Australian Racing Museum. Any copyright owner not properly identified and acknowledged on this website should contact the Museum so that corrections can be made.
Contact Us

View Our Exhibitions At:
Australian Sports Museum
Melbourne Cricket Ground 
Brunton Ave
Melbourne VIC 3000

Postal Address:
Australian Racing Museum
400 Epsom Road
Flemington VIC 3031

Email: contact@racingmuseum.com.au
Phone: +61 3 9258 4269 / + 61 3 9258 4832