Group 1 race | |
![]() Denis Boy, 1932 winner | |
Location | Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, Australia |
---|---|
Inaugurated | 1863 |
Race type | Thoroughbred - flat |
Sponsor | James Squire (2024) |
Race information | |
Distance | 2,400 metres |
Surface | Turf |
Track | Right-handed |
Qualification | Horses three years old and older |
Weight | Handicap |
Purse | A$750,000 (2024) |
Bonuses | Winner exemption from a ballot on the Queen Elizabeth Stakes |
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. [1] The total prize money for this race is A$750,000.
The race when first run in 1863 was known as the Great Metropolitan Stakes. [2] It is one of the main races in the Sydney Spring Carnival held in early October at Randwick Racecourse, along with the Epsom Handicap. [1] Many great household names have won this race, but none have won the treble of The Metropolitan, Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup. Prior to 2004 the race was run on the first Monday in October, the Labour Day holiday.
The race has been the major long distance event in the Sydney Spring Racing Carnival and has been run at Randwick Racecourse, with one exception in 1983 when the race was run at Warwick Farm Racecourse. [3]
† Not held because of outbreak of equine influenza [45]
The Champagne Stakes is an Australian Turf Club Group 1 horse race for two-year-old Thoroughbreds at set weights run at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, Australia over a distance of 1,600 metres during the Sydney Autumn Carnival. Prize money is A$1,000,000.
The Sydney Cup is an Australian Turf Club Group 1 Thoroughbred handicap horse race, for horses three years old and older, run over 3200 metres at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Australia in the autumn during the ATC Championships series and it is the longest race in the club. Total prize money is A$2,000,000.
The Craven Plate is an Australian Turf Club Group 3 Thoroughbred horse race run over 2,000 metres, under Weight for Age conditions for three-year-olds and older, at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, Australia. Total prize money for the race is A$750,000.
The Chelmsford Stakes is a Tattersalls Club Group 2 Thoroughbred horse race run over 1600 metres at Weight for Age at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, Australia, in September. Prize money is A$250,000.
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 Australian Oaks is an Australian Turf Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for three year old fillies at set weights run over a distance of 2,400 metres at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney in the autumn during the ATC Championships series. The Australian Oaks is the premier staying race for three-year-old fillies during the Sydney autumn racing carnival. Total prize money is A$1,000,000.
The Queen Elizabeth Stakes, formerly known as the Queen's Plate, AJC Plate, and AJC King's Cup, is an Australian Turf Club Group 1 Weight for Age thoroughbred horse race run over a distance of 2,000 metres at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, Australia, in the autumn during the ATC Championships series. Prize money in 2013 was A$500,000 and was increased to A$4,000,000 in 2014 to become the richest race of the Sydney Autumn Carnival and as of 2020 the third richest WFA race in Australia.
The Flight Stakes is an Australian Turf Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies, at Set Weights, run over a distance of 1600 metres at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, Australia in early October. Total prize money for the race is A$750,000.
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The Brisbane Cup is a Brisbane Racing Club Group 2 Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds and upwards, run under handicap conditions over a distance of 3200 metres at Eagle Farm Racecourse, Brisbane during the Queensland Winter Racing Carnival. Prize money is A$400,000.
The Randwick Guineas is an Australian Turf Club Group One Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds, run at set weights over a distance of 1600 metres at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Australia in March as a part of the Sydney Autumn Carnival. Total prize money for the race is A$1 million.
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The Bill Ritchie 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 1400 metres, held annually at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, 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$250,000.
The Schweppervescence, registered as the T L Baillieu Handicap, is an Australian Turf Club Group 3 Thoroughbred quality handicap horse race, for two-year-olds, over a distance of 1400 metres, held annually at Rosehill Racecourse in Sydney, Australia. Total prize money for the race is A$250,000.
The Nivison is a City Tattersalls Club Group 3 Thoroughbred horse race at set weights with penalties, for mares, four-year-olds and upwards, over a distance of 1200 metres at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, Australia in October. Total prizemoney for the race is A$250,000.
The Percy Sykes Stakes, registered as the Keith Mackay Handicap, is an Australian Turf Club Group 2 Thoroughbred horse race, for two-year-old fillies, at set weights with penalties, over a distance of 1200 metres, held at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Australia in the autumn during the ATC Championships series. It is run on the same day as the Sydney Cup. Total prize money for the race is A$1,000,000.
The Sydney Stakes is a City Tattersalls Club Group 3 Thoroughbred horse race run under Weight for Age conditions, over a distance of 1200 metres at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, Australia in October. Total prizemoney for the race is A$2,000,000.
The Breeders' Plate is an Australian Turf Club Group 3 Thoroughbred horse race, for two-year-old colts and geldings, held with set weight conditions, over a distance of 1000 metres at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Australia in early October. Total prize money for the race is A$250,000.
The AJC St Leger is an historical Australian Turf Club Thoroughbred horse race run over 2,600 metres at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney run under set weights with penalties for stayers three years and older.