Group I race | |
Location | Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, Australia |
---|---|
Inaugurated | 1866 |
Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
Sponsor | The Star (2023) |
Website | Australian Jockey Club |
Race information | |
Distance | 1,600 metres (~1 mile) |
Surface | Turf |
Track | Right-handed |
Qualification | Horses three years old and older |
Weight | Handicap, minimum 49 kg |
Purse | A$4,000,000 (2023) |
Bonuses | Exempt from ballot in Queen Elizabeth Stakes |
The Doncaster Mile, registered as the Doncaster Handicap is an Australian Turf Club Group One Thoroughbred handicap race for horses three years old and older, held over 1,600 metres at Royal Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, Australia. Although the race has traditionally been held on Easter Monday, the race is now run on the first day of the ATC Championships Carnival at Royal Randwick. [1] Total prize money is A$4,000,000.
The inaugural running of the Doncaster Handicap in 1866. [2] The 1892 running of the race attracted a record 30 starters. [2] In 1930 the race was marred by a tragic fall 1+1⁄2 furlongs from the winning post when one of the favourites fell and another was destroyed. [3]
Many great horses have won the race, including several who have also won the spring equivalent, the Epsom Handicap, while Super Impose created history in 1990 and 1991 by becoming the only horse to win both races on two occasions. [1]
Legendary trainer T.J. Smith won the race seven times. [1]
The record time for the race was set by Belmura Lad in 1979 with a time of 1:33.70. Beaten in 2018 by fan favourite Happy Clapper in 1.33.17. [4]
In 2005 trainer Guy Walter trained the trifecta in this race with Patezza (1st), Courts In Session (2nd) and Danni Martine (3rd). It was the first time that this has been achieved.
From 1879 to 1884 the distance of the race was 9 furlongs. [2] The race name was changed in 2010 to the Doncaster Mile, although the race is not exactly 1 mile. That was the distance of the race before 1973 when the metric system was introduced in Australia. [5]
The VRC Champions Stakes, registered as the LKS Mackinnon Stakes, is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race run under Weight for Age conditions over a distance of 2000 metres at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia on the last day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, the Saturday after the Melbourne Cup. Total prize money is A$3,000,000.
The Epsom Handicap is an Australian Turf Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for horses three years old and older, under handicap conditions over a distance of 1,600 metres at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, Australia in early October. Prize money is A$1,500,000.
The Metropolitan is an Australian Turf Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race held under open handicap conditions, for horses aged three years old and older, over a distance of 2,400 metres at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, Australia in early October. The total prize money for this race is A$750,000.
The Toorak Handicap is a Melbourne Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race run as an open handicap race, over a distance of 1,600 metres at Caulfield Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia. Currently, the prizemoney is A$1,000,000.
The Memsie Stakes is a Melbourne Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race held under weight for age conditions, for horses aged three years old and upwards, over a distance of 1400 metres. It is held at Caulfield Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia as a lead in to the Spring Racing Carnival. Total prize money for the race is A$1,000,000.
The Newmarket Handicap is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred open handicap horse race over a distance of 1200 metres, at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia on Super Saturday in March during the VRC Autumn Racing Carnival. Prize money is A$1,500,000.
The All Aged Stakes is an Australian Turf Club Group 1 Thoroughbred Weight for Age horse race, run over a distance of 1,400 metres at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, Australia in April or May during the ATC Autumn Carnival. Prize money is A$600,000.
The George Ryder Stakes is an Australian Turf Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds and over at Weight for age conditions, over a distance of 1500 metres at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse, Sydney, Australia in March or April. It is run on the same day as the Golden Slipper Stakes. The prize money is A$1,000,000.
The Stradbroke Handicap is a Brisbane Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred open handicap horse race, run over a distance of 1,400 metres at Eagle Farm Racecourse, Brisbane in June during the Queensland Winter Racing Carnival. It is one of the highlight races on the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival with total prize money of A$1,500,000
The Goodwood is a South Australian Jockey Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for three years old and older, run at set weights with penalties, over a distance of 1200 metres at Morphettville Racecourse, Adelaide, South Australia in the SAJC Autumn Carnival.
The Coongy Cup, registered as the Coongy Handicap, is a Melbourne Racing Club Group 3 Thoroughbred horse race held under open handicap conditions, for horses aged three years old and upwards, over a distance of 2000 metres, held at Caulfield Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia in October. Total prize money is A$200,000.
The Tramway Stakes, registered as the Tramway Handicap, is a City Tattersalls Club Group 2 Thoroughbred horse race for horses three years old and older run with set weights and penalties, over a distance of 1400 metres at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, Australia in September. Total prizemoney for the race is A$250,000.
The Cameron Handicap is a Newcastle Jockey Club Group 3 Thoroughbred open handicap horse race over a distance of 1,500 metres, held at Broadmeadow Racecourse in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia in September. Total prize money for the race is A$200,000.
The Colin Stephen Quality Handicap is an Australian Turf Club Group 3 Thoroughbred open quality handicap horse race for horses three years old and older, over a distance of 2400 metres, held annually at Rosehill Racecourse, Sydney, Australia in September. Total prize money for the race is A$200,000.
The Newcastle Stakes, registered as the Newcastle Newmarket Handicap is a Newcastle Jockey Club Group 3 Thoroughbred open quality handicap horse race over a distance of 1,400 metres, held annually at Broadmeadow Racecourse in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia in March. Total prize money for the race is A$200,000.
The Victoria Handicap is a Melbourne Racing Club Group 3 Thoroughbred open handicap horse race, over a distance of 1400 metres, held annually at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia. The total prize money for the race is A$200,000. The race is traditionally held on Easter Saturday.
The Chairman's Handicap is an Australian Turf Club Group 2 Thoroughbred quality handicap horse race for horses three years old and older, held over a distance of 2600 metres at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, Australia in April. Prizemoney is A$300,000.
The winner of this race is exempt from ballot and penalty in weights for the ATC Sydney Cup.
The Chairman's Handicap is a Brisbane Racing Club Group 3 Australian Thoroughbred open quality handicap, over a distance of 2000 metres at Doomben Racecourse, Brisbane, Australia during the Queensland Winter Racing Carnival. Prizemoney is A$150,000.
The Aurie's Star Handicap is a Victoria Racing Club Group 3 horse race held under open handicap conditions, for horses aged three years old and upwards, over a distance of 1200 metres, held annually at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia in August. The total prize money is A$200,000.
The P J Bell Stakes is an Australian Turf Club Group 3 Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies having set weights with penalties conditions, over a distance of 1200 metres, held annually at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Australia in the autumn during the ATC Championships series. Total prize money for the race is A$200,000.