This year's Spring Racing Carnival in Victoria will offer a record $A41 million in prize money, at more than 90 metropolitan and regional race meetings.
The carnival was launched on Wednesday and will finish with the Ballarat Cup on 21 November.
The ABC reports there will be a record number of international entries, including horses from Japan for the first time since the equine influenza outbreak in 2007.
Racing Minister Rob Hulls says around 750,000 people are expected to attend Spring Carnival race meetings this year.
He said 2010 marks the 150th running of the Melbourne Cup and also the 80th anniversary of Phar Lap's Cup win in 1930.
