Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour experience at Kardinia Park and the opening of a new exhibition at Geelong Sports Museum
Kardinia Park Stadium Trust (KPST) will welcome the Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour experience at Kardinia Park on Wednesday 30th September, giving the Geelong community a rare opportunity to see the prestigious prize up close and feel the magic of Australia’s most iconic race.
The free community event at GMHBA Stadium, is designed for the school holidays with activities running from 10.00am – 1.00pm across Djilang Plaza (outside Gate 1) and on the stadium field of play.
Visitors can enjoy the public viewing of the 2026 Lexus Melbourne Cup trophy on the stadium field from 11.00am to 12.00pm, with the opportunity to snap a photo with the world-famous trophy.
In Djilang Plaza, there will be a range of free family-friendly activities including meeting Living Legends retired racehorses, K rock activations, food and drink options including a BBQ, coffee and ice cream.
Geelong Sports Museum will also open specially for the occasion. Museum admission applies.
Coinciding with this event, Geelong Sports Museum has partnered with the Victorian Racing Club and Australian Racing Museum to welcome a new exhibition Silks, Studs & Stories: Briseis, St Albans and the Wilson Legacy.
The exhibition is now open and marks 150 years since Briseis, a champion mare bred at Geelong’s renowned St Albans Stud, became the first horse to win the Victoria Derby, Melbourne Cup and VRC Oaks in a single week.
Created specifically for Geelong Sports Museum, Silks, Studs & Stories draws on significant collections from the Victoria Racing Club and Australian Racing Museum to explore the legacy of Briseis, legendary horseman James “Old Jim” Wilson and the celebrated St Albans Stud on the banks of the Barwon River. The exhibition also highlights the remarkable Wilson family, whose achievements spanned both Australian racing and Geelong football.
Through the stories of champion horses, pioneering trainers, Melbourne Cup winners and football premiership players, the exhibition reveals how a property on the Barwon River became one of the most influential breeding and training establishments in Australian racing history. It also explores St Albans’ connections to some of the sport’s most celebrated names, including Carbine, Wakeful and Phar Lap.
Silks, Studs & Stories: Briseis, St Albans and the Wilson Legacy will be on display at Geelong Sports Museum from 3 September 2026 to 1 May 2027.
“KPST is delighted to host the Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour this year, giving the Geelong community another unique opportunity to step onto the stadium’s field of play. The Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour Experience at Kardinia Park will feature a range of family-friendly activities, making it a great school holiday experience. We are also excited to launch Silks, Studs & Stories: Briseis, St Albans and the Wilson Legacy at Geelong Sports Museum, celebrating Geelong’s remarkable contribution to Australian racing history and bringing the city’s deep connection to the Melbourne Cup story to life,” said Gerard Griffin, CEO, Kardinia Park Stadium Trust.
“The Australian Racing Museum is proud to partner with Geelong Sports Museum and Victoria Racing Club to bring the legendary story of Briseis to life,” said Andy Hoad, Australian Racing Museum Chair. “This is a wonderful exhibition for the community that tells the tale of Briseis and Old Jim, a story intertwined with footy and the greater Geelong area. It’s incredible to think about the influence that the region has had on Australian racing and I encourage everyone to come along and learn about an important part of Aussie sporting history.”
About Geelong Sports Museum
Located in GMHBA Stadium in Kardinia Park, Geelong Sports Museum explores the rich sporting history of the region.
The museum has packed more than 30 sports and 80-plus artefacts under one roof. Visitors can discover and play by:
- Calling the play in the commentary booth
- Rowing the Barwon River
- Testing your sports smarts in the sports quiz
- Trying your hand at sailing knots
Notable displays include a brass medal awarded to Wadawurrung man Dan Dan Nook, recognised as the fastest runner at the 1860 Scottish Highland Games, and the iconic yellow jersey worn by Cadel Evans during his 2011 Tour de France victory.
About Kardinia Park Stadium Trust (KPST)
KPST manages Victorian Government land in Geelong, which includes GMHBA Stadium, Geelong Sports Museum, Geelong Cricket Club rooms, Barwon Regional Cricket Centre, Sports House, Djilang Plaza and Legends Plaza.
KPST exists to inspire moments of connection and joy through sport, entertainment and community activities, with an overarching objective of contributing to the economic, community, and liveability benefits to Geelong and the broader region.
In 2024/25, GMHBA Stadium generated more than $190 million in social and economic value, 1,200 direct and indirect full-time equivalent jobs for the Victorian economy and hosted more than 480,000 attendees. The stadium was utilised 286 days of the financial year and the playing surface is considered one of the most utilised in Australia as it home to training sessions for the Geelong Football Club programs. The list of world class events at the stadium saw 190,000 visitors from outside the local region travel to Geelong to experience the elite venue. Within our community program, more than 21,000 local participants took part in five dedicated community events at the stadium.
