Your ultimate guide to the Sydney Spring Carnival for 2025

More than $87 million is up for grabs over the next two and a half months as the Sydney Spring Carnival rolls around for yet another year of fascinator-fuelled fun at some of Australia’s biggest races. The world’s leading jockeys and trainers will be heading into town for the occasion, filling the next few months with a packed scheduled of race days, including famous events like The Everest, the Golden Eagle, and the Epsom Handicap.

The Sydney Spring Racing Carnival is split up amongst a number of races (which I’ve listed below), and builds on a legacy that started when Hyde Park hosted Australia’s first formal races back in 1810. It was once a three-day carnival, then a four-dayer. Now you’ll find two action packed months of racing, doubling down on Sydney’s hectic spring schedule with a a ton of thoroughbred action, piles of new coverage, and usually some entertainingly shameful behaviour as punters load up on Champagne in the sun while hoping for a big pay day.

What’s the full schedule for Sydney Spring Carnival?

5 highlights of the Sydney Spring Carnival in 2025

1. The Run to the Rose Day

Where: Rosehill Gardens
When: Gates at 10:45am

Some of the nation’s top three-year-old sprinters take part in The Run The Rose Day, a major event on the Spring Racing Carnival schedule. This Group 2 race stretches over 1200 metres under a set weight with penalties. It start in 2003 but took a few years to see notable winners like Pierro and Astern come through. Punters can enjoy great views from the lawns or unwind in stylish lounges. Several Premium Dining Experience packages are available along with dedicated Champagne bars just metres from trackside.

2. 7 Stakes Day (Sydney Surf to Turf Day)

Where: Royal Randwick Racecourse
When: Gates at 10:45am

Relatively new to the schedule is this exciting race at Randwick Race Course. There’ll be a number of Group 2 races on the day, but this is the scene-stealer, acting as the first featured meeting of the Everest Carnival. This is one of the most commercial days on the schedule so expect DJs and live music alongside pop-up bars, a variety of food and bold fashion.

3. Epsom Day

Where: Royal Randwick Racecourse
When: Gates at 10:15am

There will be three Group 1 races on the epic TAB Epsom Day, which is always one of the biggest races of the year. Head along for the Epsom Handicap, the Metropolitan and the Flight Stakes after gates open to the public at 10:15am. There will be more than $5 million in prize money up for grabs across the races alongside the Group 2 Premiere Stakes, Group 3 Breeders’ Plate and Group 3 Gimcrack Stakes.

4. The Everest Day

Where: Royal Randwick Racecourse
When: Gates at 10:30am

This is the big one. TAB Everest Day is always one of the biggest events in Australia’s racing calendars, centered around the seventh running: the $20 million TAB Everest. This will feature 12 of the best sprinters compete in the world’s richest race on turf. The race always sell out far in advance so I suggest getting your tickets locked down quickly. What you’ll get in return is access to several races aside from the TAB Everest Day, including the $5 million King Charles III Stakes over 1600m and The Kosciuszko, with a prize pool of $2 million.

5. Golden Eagle Day

Where: Royal Randwick Racecourse
When: Gates at 10:30am

This is the first year that the $10 million Golden Eagle Day has moved from Sydney’s west, out in Rosehill Gardens, to the bigger Royal Randwick Racecourse. And so expect this typical blockbuster to be even more exciting this year as Sydney’s second richest race serves four-year-old runners. It’s the final leg of the Golden Slam and is considered one of the world’s richest races. Punters are encouraged to wear a touch of gold on the day.

What are the most expensive races in Sydney?

Races in Sydney have varying prize pools, with the smallest pool being $1 million and the largest being $20 million. The following are the total prize pools up for grabs on the day, ordered from highest to lowest.

• The Everest – $20 million
• The Golden Eagle – $10 million
• King Charles Stakes – $5 million
• The Big Dance – $3 million
• The Invitation – $2 million
• Hill Stakes – $2 million
• The Five Diamonds – $2 million
• Spring Champion Stakes – $2 million
• The Kosciuszko – $2 million
• Alan Brown Stakes – $1.5 million
• Winx Stakes – $1 million
• Golden Rose Stakes – $1 million
• Epsom Handicap – $1 million
• Concorde Stakes – $1 million
• Five Diamonds Prelude – $1 million
• The Silver Eagle – $1 million
• The Callendar-Presnell – $1 million
• Winners Stakes – $1 million
• Golden Gift – $1 million
• 7 Stakes – $1 million
• The Gong – $1 million
• The Hunter – $1 million

What do people wear to the races in Sydney?

The Sydney Spring Carnival is known for many things. Horse racing, of course. Great food in wide open laws in the heat of spring. That’s a big reason to head along. But it wouldn’t be quite the same without the fashions on the the field, with all punters dressed to impress and some hefty prizes to be won and live music to keep everyone dancing throughout the day.

There are different tiers of access at the Australian Turf Club and the dress code gets more formal the higher you go. The general rule is formal and distinguished, so don’t show up wearing flip-flops, jeans, playsuits, shorts, leggings, athleisure or joggers. Forget about sneakers; you’ll want to treat this as a special occasion and dress accordingly.

For men, the best way to play is:

• Tailored pants
• A collared shirt with a tie
• A jacket, sports coat or blazer

The sport has always been synonymous with fascinators so women will want to think about the following:

• Fascinators
• Dresses
• Jewellery
• Shoes

In general, the best tip is to make sure your fit works as a whole so it tells a complete narrative about who you are why you’re there.

How to get tickets to the races in Sydney?

If you want tickets to see any of the race days in Sydney then you’re best served by the Australian Turf Club. Just head on over to their website and select the race you want.

Alternatively, you can also visit the Ticketmaster website. Tickets can be purchased at the gate as well, but for the bigger ones you’ll want to book far in advance.