[2] A legacy passed from the Victoria Turf Club was the annual "race that stops a nation", the Melbourne Cup, which was first contested in 1861.

The VRC is managed by an unpaid committee, elected by club members.

In 1871, the Victorian Government appointed the VRC as trustees of a site of 352 acres (1.4 km2) of Crown Land, next to the Maribyrnong River, which became known as Flemington Racecourse.

Much of the early success of the VRC is attributed to the administration of the first Secretary of the club, R. C. Bagot[3] and his successors H. Byron Moore and A. V. Kewney.

These meetings include Group 1 races for the Australian Cup, the Newmarket Handicap and the Black Caviar Lightning.