Extra police will be deployed at Flemington Racecourse and throughout the city during the week-long festivities, which kick off with Derby Day on Saturday.

Protesters from the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses are planning to make themselves heard from outside the gates each race day, as well as during Monday's Melbourne Cup parade.

The group says it's been inundated with support since ABC's 7.30 program broadcast footage last week of racehorses being sent to a slaughterhouse and allegations of animal cruelty at the facility.

"We've had an amazing response, the whole country has been alerted to the reality of horse racing from that," spokeswoman Kristin Leigh told AAP.

"We definitely expect our crowds to be bigger this year and we welcome anyone who speaks up for horses and is committed to non-violent protest."

While the anti-horseracing group is present at most race meets, it will likely be joined by other activists at Flemington this year, Victoria Police Superintendent Therese Fitzgerald said.

The force has been busy managing hundreds of protesters who are blockading entry to the International Mining and Resources Conference in Melbourne and some of those activists may redirect their attention trackside.

"We do make it part of our planning and with the events going on at IMARC at the moment we're certainly gathering intelligence, looking at people who perhaps are causing trouble and might be looking to cause trouble here at these events," Supt Fitzgerald told reporters on Wednesday.

"We'll be in a very strong position to respond."

For the first time police will be deploying drones to monitor the racecourse and its surrounds for "illegal activity," she added.

Ms Leigh said the majority of mining activists were non-violent and welcomed them to join.

"We would love them, they're very welcome to come along and join in with us because they are really passionate and they speak up for what is right," she said.

Australian Associated Press