The Geelong Racing Club was founded in March 1865 at a public meeting at the British Hotel.

The first Geelong Cup was held in 1872 over a distance of two miles and was won by Flying Scud.

In 1903 the racecourse was transferred to its present site at Breakwater where the Geelong Racing Club will host more than 40 race meetings in the 2009/10 racing season.

The traditional two day Geelong Cup carnival was consolidated back to one day of racing in 2003 and is gaining international recognition as a preferred pathway through to the Melbourne Cup.

The Irish stayer Media Puzzle took out the 2002 Geelong Cup before going on to win a memorable Melbourne Cup a fortnight later.

Last year the English stayer Bauer scored an impressive win in the Geelong Cup prior to being beaten a nose in the Melbourne Cup.