Photo:

Michael Felgate / X

A man has been charged with arson after a fire at Caulfield Racecourse, a historic track in Melbourne, Australia.

More than 65 firefighters and 17 vehicles responded to the fire, according to a post by Fire Rescue Victoria. No injuries to track employees or the public were reported.

One of the grandstands and a bar were significantly affected by fire, according to the post, and another bar and an adjoining stand sustained water damage.

Quick work by fire crews and an effective sprinkler system prevented extension of the fire to adjoining stands.

A 51-year-old man was charged with arson for the Caulfield fire and other, smaller fires, according to the Victoria Police.

The track has been the site of horse
racing since the late 1850s and was more formally developed from 1876 by the Victoria Amateur Turf Club, according to Heritage Council Victoria.

It has been home to the Caulfield Cup since 1879. The Group 1 race had a purse of about $3.1 million in 2024.

The track’s first card of 2025, which was scheduled for Wednesday, was moved to nearby Mornington. Caulfield is scheduled to host the C. F. Orr Stakes (G1) on Feb. 8. It was not immediately known how long races might have to be transferred to other venues.