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 75% 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.

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 2008, Eliza Park has produced some of Victoria's best stallions in recent years including General Nediym and Bel Esprit, with the latter serving 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.

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.

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 this website).