Australia’s original major event goes on sale today, with tickets for the 2017 Melbourne Cup Carnival available for purchase.

Racegoers can once again take advantage of an early bird offering, with General Admission tickets at their lowest price since 2008 for AAMI Victoria Derby Day, 2010 for Emirates Melbourne Cup Day, 2005 for VRC Oaks Day and 2009 for Emirates Stakes Day. Children under 16 accompanied by an adult are admitted free of charge.

It is the third consecutive year the Victoria Racing Club (VRC) has offered tickets at these early bird prices, continuing to make the four-day carnival as accessible as ever.

The early bird sale is valid for all General Admission tickets purchased until Sunday 17 September 2017.

Also on sale today are tickets for public reserved seating and The Precinct, as well as Sofitel Girls’ Day Out (16 September) and Yellowglen Turnbull Stakes Day (7 October).

While a range of corporate and public packages are available including The Stayers Lounge in The Winning Post Enclosure which is new for 2017, along with Carnival favourites The Terrace Restaurant, Rose Room and Makybe Diva Marquees.

VRC Chief Executive Simon Love said the Melbourne Cup Carnival continues to represent incredible value.

“Visitors to the 2017 Melbourne Cup Carnival can expect the legendary racing and fashion Flemington is famous for as we continue to enhance the raceday experience through innovative offerings, such as The Park which attracted huge crowds during last year’s Carnival.”

The Melbourne Cup Carnival is one of Victoria’s biggest tourism events, drawing more than 100,000 people from interstate each year.

“More than a third of attendees at the four days at Flemington are from outside Victoria, and we expect those from interstate to lead the rush for tickets with the Melbourne Cup Carnival an experience people across the nation want to be a part of,” Mr Love said.

The VRC funds the Melbourne Cup Carnival at a cost of $50 million which in turn attracts more than 315,000 racegoers to Flemington each year and injects close to $400 million into the Victorian economy, bolstered by growing tourism numbers.

The Melbourne Cup Carnival commences with AAMI Victoria Derby Day on 4 November, followed by Emirates Melbourne Cup Day on Tuesday 7 November, VRC Oaks Day on Thursday 9 November and Emirates Stakes Day on Saturday 11 November.

Flemington welcomes the attendance of families, with children under 16 accompanied by an adult admitted free of charge.

Melbourne Cup Carnival general admission, public reserved seating and The Precinct tickets can be purchased from www.flemington.com.au.