Summer 2026 officially starts at the Ballarat Cup!
Get your crew together for one of Ballarat's biggest social events of the year on Saturday 5 December from 10.30am at the Ballarat Turf Club.
Here's 5 fun facts about the 2026 Ballarat Cup to get you in the mood for all the race day action:
- Australian thoroughbred horse trainer Dan O'Sullivan trained at Ballarat for 30 years before finally winning his hometown Cup with Berkeley Square in 2024. After waiting three decades for that elusive victory, he backed it up by winning again in 2025 and is now chasing an extraordinary third consecutive Ballarat Cup in 2026.
- Ballarat-based jockey John Allen has won three Ballarat Cups throughout his career and will be looking to add another to his record in 2026. Originally from Ireland, John has built an incredible career in Australian racing and is a great local success story.
- Two-time Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Sheila Laxon has enjoyed an extraordinary career, travelling the world with horses and experiencing success on racing's biggest stages. After such an incredible international career, Sheila now calls Ballarat home.
- The Ballarat Cup has always been a family-friendly event but it's really stepping it up a notch this year. The dedicated Victoria Park Stables Enclosure will provide a fantastic space for families to enjoy Cup Day, with kids' rides, entertainment, face painting, picnic areas and a sausage sizzle.
- Super Disco Club will be taking the stage after the last race on Cup Day to deliver the ultimate finish to an unforgettable day of racing, fashion and entertainment!
