Collection 

The Museum celebrates the success and history of thoroughbred racing, its many heroes, characters and personalities and contextualises the industry’s broader role within Australian cultural and sporting heritage. It simultaneously presents a picture of contemporary practices, and continues to research, discover, communicate, and care for aspects of our heritage.    

The Australian Racing Museum’s collection celebrates all aspects of Australian thoroughbred horse racing. With icons such as Phar Lap’s Agua Caliente bridle and the saddle used by Billy Elliott; Carbine’s 1890 Melbourne Cup trophy and a dress worn to the races on the day he claimed the prize; or the signed rug used on Black Caviar before she flew to Ascot to take on the world, the museum documents the champions of our sport. But the world of racing offers so much more than the mundane and familiar add colour to the stories of real people in racing, making history, and give context to our sport and its role in the wider community. 

Containing over 38,000 objects and spanning from colonisation to present day this is a living collection – the stories of today are our history. The gear used by Michelle Payne for both her 2015 Melbourne Cup win and devastating 2016 race fall in Mildura; the gear Clare Lindop used for her final professional race; a padded whip used by champion jockey Patrick Moloney during his apprenticeship; and the hat and vest worn by trainer Udyta Clarke on the day Rich. We are delighted that a majority of our collection is now available to be viewed online.