Experience the excitement of the Port Lincoln Cup in the heart of South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula!
Port Lincoln has racing in its blood. This is the town tied to Makybe Diva, the mare owned by local tuna man Tony Santic and named after five women in his Port Lincoln office. She is still the only horse to win three Melbourne Cups, and honoured with a bronze statue on the town’s foreshore. That heritage runs straight through the Port Lincoln Cup, the Eyre Peninsula’s premier thoroughbred race.
Hosted by the Port Lincoln Racing Club, the Cup brings together the thrill of the race, the fashion, and a genuine country-town atmosphere, drawing racegoers from across the state and interstate. It’s more than a race day. It’s a celebration of the sport, the history, and the character of Port Lincoln.
And the racing is only the start. The Eyre Peninsula’s coastline is a drawcard in its own right. Swim with sea lions, walk empty white-sand beaches, explore the national parks, and drop a line. This is South Australia’s seafood frontier, home to some of the best fishing and freshest oysters in the country. Pair a day at the track with a few days on the Peninsula and you’ve got a getaway worth the trip.
The Best Western Port Lincoln (formerly the Hilton Beachfront Motel) welcomes visitors heading to the Cup. Sitting right on Boston Bay with direct beach access, recently refurbished rooms, and the pub, shops and restaurants a short stroll away, it’s a comfortable base for the Carnival and everything else the Eyre Peninsula has to offer.
The 2027 MGA Insurance Group Port Lincoln Cup Carnival runs the week of 24 February 2027, with racing on Wednesday, the Calcutta on Thursday, and the Cup itself on Friday 26 February 2027 at the Port Lincoln Racing Club, Proper Bay Road.
For the full schedule, ticketing and entry prices, see the Port Lincoln Racing Club: https://www.plrc.com.au/upcoming-races