Racing has taken place at Moonee Valley, about 15 kilometres from Melbourne City centre, since 1883 on land owned by W S Cox. The very first race, a maiden plate, was a dead heat between Pyrette and Eveline. It was a unique course in providing stables for competing horses and accommodation for the public. Cox also opened a second, similar course, at Maribyrnong. Between 1883 and 1917 the course was run by the Moonee Valley Pty Ltd and its principal race is the W S Cox Plate. The first Harness racing took place at the track on 5th November 1894. By 1929 the Cox family sold the course to the Moonee Valley Racing Club having previously leased it. In January 1976 construction began on a new trotting track and the work was finished by October of that same year. The present day left handed turf course is almost square in shape with a perimeter of 9 furlongs with a short 170 metre home straight. The track hosts 3 Group One races each year of which the earliest, the Manikato Stakes, first staged in 1968 when Winfreux was successful, is run over 1200 metres in September. The William Reid Stakes, first contested in 1925 when won by The Night Patrol, takes place in March over 1200 metres. The Night Patrol completed the double in 1926, with a full list of previous winners given below. The racecourse also hosts Australia’s weight for age championship over 2040 metres called the W S Cox Plate and it was first run in 1922 and won by Violoncello. The great Phar Lap won the race in 1930 and again in 1931, and Chatham also won the race twice in 1932 and 1934. Whilst the previous winners of the Cox Plate are freely available on the internet, winners of the other two Group One races are shown below.
William Reid Stakes winners since its inception in 1925
1925 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by The Night Patrol
1926 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by The Night Patrol
1927 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Heroic
1928 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Translator
1929 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Gothic
1930 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Figure
1931 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Mystic Peak
1932 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Middle Watch
1933 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Waltzing Lily
1934 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Heros
1935 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Heros
1936 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was not contested
1937 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Pamelus
1938 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Hua
1939 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Amiable
1940 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Magic Circle
1941 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by All Veil
1942 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Chatasan
1943 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was not contested
1944 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Reception
1945 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Davids Last
1946 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Tranquil Star
1947 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Bravesia
1948 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Chanak
1949 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Comedy Prince
1950 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Filipino
1951 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Comic Court
1952 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Flying Halo
1953 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Flying Halo
1954 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by St Joel
1955 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Flying Halo
1956 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Joda Boy
1957 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Golden Doubles
1958 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Golden Doubles
1959 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Merger
1960 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Planetoid
1961 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Lady Major
1962 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by New Statesman
1963 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Nikalapko
1964 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Check Up
1965 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Contempler
1966 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by State Affair
1967 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Marmion
1968 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Winfreux
1969 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Magic Ruler
1970 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Crewman
1971 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Tango Miss
1972 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Dual Choice
1973 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by All Shot
1974 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by All Shot
1975 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Leica Show
1976 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Lord Dudley
1977 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Toy Show
1978 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Family of Man
1979 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Manikato
1980 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Manikato
1981 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Manikato
1982 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Manikato
1983 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Manikato
1984 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Qubeau
1985 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by River Rough
1986 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Campaign King
1987 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Canny Lass
1988 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Vo Rogue
1989 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Zedative
1990 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Lightning Bend
1991 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Redelva
1992 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Wrap Around
1993 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Spanish Mix
1994 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Lady Jakeo
1995 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Hareeba
1996 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Strategic
1997 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Spartacus
1998 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Stella Cadente
1999 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Grand Archway
2000 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Miss Pennymoney
2001 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Bomber Bill
2002 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Toledo
2003 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Yell
2004 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Regimental Gal
2005 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Cape of Good Hope
2006 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Virage De Fortune
2007 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Miss Andretti
2008 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Apache Cat
2009 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Apache Cat
2010 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Turffontein
2011 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Black Caviar
2012 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Fox Wedge
2013 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Black Caviar
2014 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Spirit of Boom
2015 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Lucky Hussler
2016 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Flamberge
2017 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Silent Sedition
2018 The William Reid Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Hellbent
Manikato Stakes winners since its inception in 1968
1968 The Manikato Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Winfreux
1969 The Manikato Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Vain
1970 The Manikato Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Dual Choice
1971 The Manikato Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Dual Choice
1972 The Manikato Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Century
1973 The Manikato Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Tauto
1974 The Manikato Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Tauto
1975 The Manikato Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Lord Dudley
1976 The Manikato Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Scamanda
1977 The Manikato Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Ease The Squeeze
1978 The Manikato Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Vice Regal
1979 The Manikato Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Manikato
1980 The Manikato Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Grey Sapphire
1981 The Manikato Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Silver Bounty
1982 The Manikato Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Manikato
1983 The Manikato Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Strawberry Road
1984 The Manikato Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Vite Cheval
1985 The Manikato Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Touch of Genius
1986 The Manikato Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Lockleys Tradition
1987 The Manikato Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Rubiton
1988 The Manikato Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Rancho Ruler
1989 The Manikato Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Our Westminster
1990 The Manikato Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Street Ruffian
1991 The Manikato Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Sonic Express
1992 The Manikato Stakes over 1200 metres was won by King Marauding
1993 The Manikato Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Never Undercharge
1994 The Manikato Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Spanish Mix
1995 The Manikato Stakes over 1200 metres was won by You Remember
1996 The Manikato Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Poetic King
1997 The Manikato Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Spartacus
1998 The Manikato Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Dane Ripper
1999 The Manikato Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Redoutes Choice
2000 The Manikato Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Sunline
2001 The Manikato Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Piavonic
2002 The Manikato Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Spinning Hill
2003 The Manikato Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Spinning Hill
2004 The Manikato Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Spark of Life
2005 The Manikato Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Spark of Life
2006 The Manikato Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Miss Andretti
2007 The Manikato Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Gold Edition
2008 The Manikato Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Typhoon Zed
2009 The Manikato Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Danleigh
2010 The Manikato Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Hay List
2011 The Manikato Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Sepoy
2012 The Manikato Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Sea Siren
2013 The Manikato Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Buffering
2014 The Manikato Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Lankan Rupee
2015 The Manikato Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Chautauqua
2016 The Manikato Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Rebel Dane
2017 The Manikato Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Hey Doc
2018 The Manikato Stakes over 1200 metres was won by Brave Smash
