Flemington Racecourse hosted the 2026 Melbourne Cup, where race favourite Point of Law secured victory under jockey Ethan Brown, while racegoers inside the exclusive Birdcage enclosure faced widespread shock over food items priced up to $19.50 amid a national cost-of-living crisis.
news.com.au reported that the high-stakes raceday drew nearly 100,000 punters to the track, but limited food infrastructure left only a handful of stalls servicing the massive crowd. Inside the VIP marquees, including the Asahi marquee within the Birdcage, menus offered a restricted selection of just six items.
Menu Pricing Inside the Birdcage
Frocked-up patrons encountered strict limits on portions alongside steep price points. The menu featured miniature hot dogs priced at $18.50, fried chicken karaage dishes at $18.50, prawn sandwiches at $19.50, and three Gyozas costing $16.
Small-business owner Gianni expressed frustration over the value proposition within the VIP area. “I’m a small-business owner myself, and the food here is actually outrageous,” she told news.com.au. “I ordered food for my table, and it was well over $100, but we barely got anything.”
Gianni noted that limited competition intensified the financial pinch for attendees. “There’s nowhere else people can go, there’s only two food options in the whole area,” she said, alleging that the vendors were capitalizing on a captive market.
Another attendee who purchased the chicken karaage for nearly $20 described the offering as a total rip-off. “I’m not surprised in a place like this,” the racegoer told news.com.au. “It’s bloody unAustralian that we come to the races, and they don’t provide reasonable portions for a decent price.”
On-Track Action at Flemington
While off-track discussions centered on inflation and menu costs, the racing action delivered historic results for trainer Ciaron Maher. Maher secured a clean sweep of the podium, with his horses crossing the finish line in first, second, and third place.
Point of Law, the race favorite previously owned by the former King Charles, claimed the top prize. Jockey Ethan Brown guided the charger through a tactical field, chasing down the leaders to capture the 2026 Melbourne Cup.
| Event Detail | Result / Figure |
|---|---|
| Winning Horse | Point of Law |
| Winning Jockey | Ethan Brown |
| Winning Trainer | Ciaron Maher |
| VIP Prawn Sandwich Price | $19.50 |
| VIP Chicken Karaage Price | $18.50 |
For everyday racegoers balancing high grocery bills away from Flemington, the stark contrast between trackside luxury pricing and standard economic pressures tempered the celebration of the historic racing fixture.
