As Australia’s premier race for three-year-olds at the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival, the Victoria Derby field is always full of an elite range of promising gallopers from around the country.
The annual announcement of the Victoria Derby final field is a highly anticipated event for punters and racing fans, especially those who got in on the lucrative ante-post betting markets as they discover whether their selections will be among the lucky horses to earn a place in the classic race.
The $1.5 million Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) takes place as the marquee race of Victoria Derby Day, which is the opening meeting of Flemington’s esteemed four-day Melbourne Cup Carnival in late October and early November.
Betting on the Victoria Derby field of runners is the best way to get in on the action of this prestigious race and the best bets you can make are online through a bookmaker such as SportsBet.
What is the Maximum Number of Horses in the Victoria Derby Final Field?
The Victoria Derby field limit is 16 horses plus four emergencies, but the maximum number of starters don’t always take to the track come race day.
It can be an excellent chance for punters to bet on the Victoria Derby when less than 16 horses make up the final field, as there are less runners to consider and chose from when placing a bet online.
However, many smart punters jump on the juicy odds available early for the Victoria Derby around the nominations time.
Often 200 or more horses are among the early entries for the Victoria Derby field, but if you are a racing enthusiast with lots of knowledge about the in-form three-year-olds for the season, choosing the Victoria Derby winner before the final field has been announced means you will be treated to some very lucrative odds.
When is the Victoria Derby Field Announced?
The list of horses making up the Victoria Derby nominations is released in late September and this is when the generous ante-post betting markets open up at the online bookmakers.
After the nominations stage, the Victoria Derby final field of up to 16 horses is then announced on the Wednesday before the race is run.
Once the Victoria Derby final field is out, more and more punters start to have a bet on their favourites and the odds for the horses often dramatically shorten.
For more info on how and where to place the best bets on the Victoria Derby field head to our Victoria Derby Betting page and get ready to back your favourite three-year-old this spring!
Don’t forget the Melbourne Cup spring carnival also includes the 2011 Melbourne Cup (Tue 1st), 2011 Crown Oaks day (Thu 3rd) and 2011 Emirates Stakes (Sat 5th).
