When deciding on a place to send your broodmare, race your horse or invest in property look no further than Victoria.

Victoria is home to the world famous Melbourne Cup, which is the pinnacle of the ‘Spring Carnival’ an event like no other, which covers 13 metropolitan meetings, 67 country meetings and sees up to 750,000 people attend the race meetings. The Melbourne Cup carnival, run over 4 days, attracts over 400,000 racegoers. The Spring Carnival alone generates over $500 million in gross economic benefit to the Victorian economy.

Victoria is also home to the unique incentive scheme for owners and breeders, Super VOBIS (Victorian Owners & Breeders Incentive Scheme), which offers qualified horses up to $13 million in prizemoney each year, with bonuses available on every 2 & 3 year old race in Victoria (See Super VOBIS section of this website for more details).

Unlike other areas of Australia the main breeding hubs in Victoria are located only 1-1.5 hours from the city itself making stallion farms very accessible no matter where you are located.

The North East region of the state is the most populated thoroughbred breeding region, which sees 35% of the state’s stallion’s stand in the area and is home to Blue Gum Farm, Darley Stud and Swettenham Stud. There are also a number of internationally recognized wineries located in the region making a trip to the north east a must for any thoroughbred enthusiast. Also located in the region is the Seymour racecourse, which a number of Victoria's leading trainers use to educate young horses before stepping them up to city class races.

The North East offers year round temperate climate, which is ideal for horses so it is no surprise that Black Caviar was raised right in the heart of this outstanding thoroughbred country. Picturesque stud farms, attractive towns, job opportunities, affordable country living and great natural beauty – all in an area internationally renowned for producing world class wine and gourmet food.

In recent times the area has become the home of the Lindsay Park operation, run by Champion trainer David Hayes.

Just under an hours drive from Melbourne's CBD you will find the stunning Eliza Park Stud. Home to no less than 11 stallions in 2011 including BEL ESPRIT (four time Champion Victorian Stallion) sire of the World's Best sprinter BLACK CAVIAR, Eliza Park has produced some of Victoria's best stallions in recent years including Bel Esprit, which recorded an Australian record for mares served in a season in 2007. The Lee Fleming owned operation has invested significantly in stallions over the past 5 years and this years sees the likes of Shinzig and Magnus join G1 star God's Own. Located in Kerrie, Eliza Park is just a short drive from the famous Hanging Rock racecourse as well as some of Australia's finest wineries.

The 2010/11 season saw the Eliza Park resident Written Tycoon crowned Champion Australian First Season Sire, the first Victorian to do so since Flying Spur stood at Chatswood Stud in 2000.

This region has also seen the likes of Testa Rossa stand seasons with Yallambee Stud in Romsey, located 5 minutes from Kerrie, also known as being one of Australia's best yearling nurseries.

An hours drive south of Melbourne is the picturesque Bellarine Peninsula home to the three time Melbourne Cup winning Champion Makybe Diva. This region is a rapidly developing area of Victoria which has a fast growing reputation for turning out outstanding foals and yearlings. In 2011 Rosemont Stud welcomes Danzero back to Victoria as he becomes the foundation site for the rapdily developing farm.

Half an hour from these farms is the famous Bells Beach, which sits along one of the finest stretches of surf coast in the World.

South east of Melbourne, nestled amongst wineries and stunning coastlines is the Mornington Peninsula, hpme to a number of stud farms and newly established broodmare operations. This region offers ideal climate and rainfall to grow out horses as well as easy access to a number of Victoria's leading country racetracks.

If you are coming to Melbourne for the yearling sales William Inglis & Son’s sales complex is located 5 minutes from the Melbourne Airport (20 minutes from Eliza Park) and only 30 minutes from the city. For more information on Melbourne sales go to www.inglis.com.au

Victoria has long been recognised as a breeding ground for champion stallions and this list includes the likes of Better Boy, Century, Encosta de Lago and Rory’s Jester. With the capital investment in Victoria at an all time high a return to the halcyon days is just around the corner, with the most exciting line up of stallions in the state for the past 20 years (For more on the stallion farms in Victoria go to the ‘Stallion Farm’ section on the TBV website).