Moonee Valley is targeting AFL Grand Final eve next year for its return to racing, with chief executive Michael Browell declaring the club will “one hundred per cent” host the 2027 Cox Plate. The Valley’s $250 million rebuild is nearing a key milestone, with new turf due to be laid before Christmas.
Racenet reported the club is working “hand in glove” with Racing Victoria on the customer experience for its comeback, which is pencilled in for the Friday night before next year’s grand final, pending approval of its temporary infrastructure plans.
“We’ve got a Cox Plate in a couple of weeks at Flemington and then all focus will be to see racing return here on Grand Final Eve in 2027,” Browell said.
The Age reported that the first meeting back would be the Group 1 Manikato Stakes meeting on the eve of the grand final, after Browell opened the new track to the media for the first time on Tuesday.
Temporary stands until the new grandstand is built
There will be no permanent grandstand when racing resumes. Browell said Cox Plate crowds would be catered for with the kind of temporary infrastructure used at the Australian Open, Flemington’s Birdcage precinct and the Formula 1 Grand Prix at Albert Park.
“We won’t have the (permanent) grandstand in place then, so customers will be coming back to a Formula 1-style event, with all the temporary infrastructure,” he told Racenet.
Browell said race day facilities, including the mounting yard, tie-up stalls, stewards’ offices and trainer and jockey rooms, would be finished in time for the return, The Age reported.
Racenet reported the club has ambitions to build a multipurpose 5000 to 6000 seat event space and grandstand from 2029, once its The Eveline apartment development is complete. Browell described the planned building to The Age: “Over 10,000 square metres, it’ll accommodate 5000-6000 people on race day, set over 3½ levels, connecting with the tunnel that brings you in from the infield [car park].”
A very different Valley
The old course has been completely demolished. According to The Age, the new track has been moved closer to the CityLink freeway, and its home straight will be 144 metres longer, stretching from 173m to 307m, and will run east to west rather than north to south.
“We’re actually paying for this ourselves, believe it or not,” Browell said.
“We’re not a government project. We’re not a Big Build project. We’re the majority shareholder in one of the biggest residential developments in the country, Moonee Valley Park.”
Racing Victoria still to sign off
The final call rests with Racing Victoria. Racenet reported that the approvals process sits with RV, which needs to be satisfied the Valley can host premium meetings, including the Cox Plate, while the redevelopment continues.
The Age reported last month that RV’s demands included the ability to host 15,000 spectators without a grandstand, a Group 1-standard track and suitable race day facilities.
In August, RV told Betsy that no decision was due for some time. “Our race dates for the 2027-28 season are not finalised until autumn 2027 so decisions regarding the allocation of meetings by Racing Victoria is not due for some time,” RV said.
Browell is confident the club will tick those boxes. “The club has a great relationship there with Racing Victoria, we’re working closely with them to tick every box needed to see racing return,” he said.
Cox Plate goes to Flemington first
Before then, the 2026 Cox Plate will be run at Flemington on Saturday 24 October, the first time the race has been staged away from Moonee Valley. The club’s other meetings this season have been moved to Caulfield, Cranbourne, Flemington, Geelong, Pakenham and Sandown, Racing Victoria confirmed when it released the 2026-27 race dates.
For a look back at the race’s history at its traditional home, see our 10 greatest Cox Plate winners of all time.
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