AS Melbourne Cup week looms, thoroughbreds dominate headlines every spring.

But beyond the racetrack lies a vast industry, and this November, the public is invited to see that world for themselves.

National Thoroughbred Week will run from 20-24 November 2025, giving thousands of people a chance to step inside working farms, stables, and retraining properties across every state of Australia and throughout New Zealand.

With more than 70 venues confirmed, visitors can tour facilities, speak directly with those who raise and train them, and gain firsthand insight into an agricultural sector that rarely opens its gates.

The breeding and racing industry is a significant driver of regional jobs and land use.

The breeding sector alone contributed $1.68 billion to the national economy in the last financial year, supporting more than 9200 full-time equivalent jobs, many in rural communities.

Vicky Leonard, one of the organisers of National Thoroughbred Week, said more than 6000 breeders and 33,000 people work directly with thoroughbreds across stud farms, transport, feed production, veterinary services, fencing, pasture management across Australia.

“This is a rural industry in motion,” Leonard said.

“A lot of people have questions about horse racing around Melbourne Cup time, so we are giving them the opportunity to directly see it for themselves.

“It’s about care, jobs, livestock, and land – and now the public can see it in action.

“People will be surprised by what they find,” she said.

Legendary trainer Gai Waterhouse at her Randwick stables.

One of the major breeding operations opening its gates is Silverdale Farm, owned by Steve Grant, in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales.

“The moment people walk through the gates, they realise it’s not what they imagined,” Grant said.

“They see the facilities, the care, the way the horses live – it changes their view.

We’ve designed everything around the safety and wellbeing of the horses and the people who work with them.

“The paddocks aren’t just open spaces – they’re enriched environments with shelter, stimulation, and grazing rotation built in. That’s the kind of detail people don’t see unless they visit,” he said.

Grant believes opening up the farm gates to the public is long overdue.

“If I had to come back as an animal, I’d be a thoroughbred. They’re incredibly well-looked after,” he said.

This is the first time a co-ordinated national event of this scale has been held.

Participating venues range from elite breeders and boutique farms to retraining and rehoming centres.

Included in the line-up is elite breeding operations Yulong, Coolmore, Newgate and Arrowfield, where visitors can pat young foals or see some of the country’s most valuable stallions.

Training operations from Chris Waller Racing and Ciaron Maher Racing will open both its Ballarat and Bong Bong bases and dozens of smaller farms and aftercare specialists will open their gates for the first time.

Legendary trainer Gai Waterhouse is also opening her Randwick stables to the public.

“Everyone will be able to enjoy it,” Waterhouse said.

“People can step into our world, see how the horses are bedded, how they live, and how they’re cared for.

“Families will learn something about our industry – and meet the horses themselves. It’s a chance to learn and ask questions,” she said.

Yulong marketing manager, Claudia Miller, says the initiative is about creating space for curiosity, especially outside the racing bubble.

“Racing should be an industry for everyone. National Thoroughbred Week gives everyday Australians the opportunity to be curious and ask questions about a world they may never have experienced before,” Miller said.

“We’re excited to showcase what happens beyond the racecourse, debunk a few myths, and let people get up close and personal with the real stars of the show – the horses.”

All events are free to attend, but registrations are essential.

Visit National Thoroughbred Week  to find your nearest venue, book tickets, or learn more.