The Victoria Racing Club (VRC) has forged a significant link with US racing.
The Group 2 Belmont Gold Cup in New York, set for June, now offers a ballot-free exemption into the prestigious Melbourne Cup in November.
The Belmont Gold Cup, covering the same 3200-meter distance as the Melbourne Cup, is expected to attract more American horses to Australia.
Past Belmont winners like Amade and Loft have already made their mark down under.
“The global footprint of the Melbourne Cup Carnival and Melbourne Cup is growing every year.” VRC chairman Neil Wilson stated.
NYRA’s Andrew Otterman noted the added incentive for owners.
“The Belmont Gold Cup has proven to be a strong race, attracting top marathon horses from North America and across Europe.” Otterman said.
To celebrate, the 18-carat Melbourne Cup trophy will be showcased at Saratoga on June 6 during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, marking its first visit to New York.