Spring is fast approaching, and the excitement of the Sydney Races will be taking place over the course of six consecutive Saturdays in September and October this year in 2014. These eventful six days of horse racing make up the anticipated Sydney Spring Racing Carnival 2014, offering great reasons to get excited. Here’s what you can expect over the events of these six days held at Rosehill Gardens and Royal Randwick this spring in 2014.
September 13: Golden Rose Day
Held at Rosehill Gardens, the opening day of the Spring Sydney Racing Carnival brings with it a traditional favourite: the Golden Rose Day. As an annual Group 1 set weights event for three-year-olds, the Golden Rose encompasses a race length of 1400 metres with $1,000,000 dollars on the line for prize winnings. After watching last year’s winner of the Golden Rose Day, Zoustar, take the title, bettors and horse-race enthusiasts alike can’t wait to see who takes it this year.
September 20: George Main Stakes Day
Royal Randwick hosts the second Saturday event of the Sydney Spring Race Carnival, the George Main Stakes Day. This 1600-metre race is also a group 1 race with Weight for Age conditions, and offers $300,000 dollars in winnings. Named after the former chairman of the Australian Jockey Club, George Main, this race day is another highly anticipated one.
September 27: Stan Fox Stakes
Named after the illustrious thoroughbred owner/breeder Stan Fox, the Stan Fox Stakes will be held at Rosehill Gardens on September 27. This Group 2 1400-metre race is worth $150,000 dollars, and is open for set-weight three-year-olds. Since the inaugural winner of the event, Hydahban, took the title in 1975, the Stan Fox Stakes has remained a high-quality annual event.
October 4: The Epsom Handicap Day
As one of the major races of the Sydney Racing Carnival, the Epsom Handicap is a prestigious group 1 race conducted over 1600 metres and worth $500,000 in winnings. This spring, the Epsom Handicap will be held at Royal Randwick Racetrack.
October 11: Spring Champion Stakes Day
Spring Champion Stakes is a longer race held over 2000 metres for Group 1 set weights, and will be hosted at Royal Randwick this Spring. First held in 1971, the Spring Champion Stakes is another highly anticipated race, attracting the top performing three-year-olds with staying potential.
October 18: City Tattersalls Cup Day
To finish the Sydney Spring Race Carnival, City Tattersalls Cup Day is a Group 3 race over 2200 metres that will be held at Royal Randwick, bringing with it an exciting race with a great atmosphere of enjoyment and rejoicing.
Whether you’re a highly experienced bettor or simply a horse-loving enthusiast, you’ll surely find all things to please and excite you this spring at the Sydney Racing Carnival. Enjoy the excitement and highly competitive energy that encompasses the stands during each of the races, and you might just find that these events come to epitomize the enjoyment of your spring season. Tip your hat to the races this year, and get ready for some of the best excitement of your entire year!