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Australia’s 5 Richest Horse Races

| November 14, 2019
Australia's richest horse races
The Melbourne Cup is Australia’s greatest horse race but other races in the calendar have large prize purses on offer.

Australia is a country rich in horse racing history. The racing calendar Down Under has some of the biggest races in the world including the famous Melbourne Cup. Large prize purses are given to competitors and a horse can become a legend overnight by winning the major events. Before you wager on the next big horse race, the online betting guide will give you details on all of the horses competing and help you make wise wagering decisions. 

There are rich horse races staged around the world that attract owners who are eager to collect the enormous financial rewards. Prize money in Australian horse racing also continues to grow and here is a look at the 5 richest horse races in Australia.

1. The Everest

The 2019 edition of the Everest offered a prize pool of $14m with race winner, Yes Yes Yes, taking home $4.8m from the pot. Only two horse races in 2019 surpassed The Everest in terms of prize money. The Dubai World Cup offered $12m while the newly created Saudi Cup awarded competitors $20m. The Everest has virtually no history, having been around for only three years. However, even without any tradition or prestige, the enormous prize money will continue to attract trainers, jockeys and horses from all corners of the globe.

2. Melbourne Cup

The Melbourne Cup has been run 159 times and has stood the test of time as Australia’s premier horse race. For many years, the Melbourne Cup led the way Down Under in the highest prize money available. The 2019 edition of the Melbourne Cup handed out $5.3m in prize money with just under $3m going to the winner of the race. Even though it has been surpassed by other cash bonanzas, the Melbourne Cup will always be, far and away, the most coveted prize in equine sport. Some of the greatest race calls for instance have been in Melbourne Cups from years past.

3. Queen Elizabeth Stakes

Held at Randwick Racecourse and run over the distance of 2,000 metres, the Queen Elizabeth Stakes is Australia’s third richest race currently. The event has a $4m prize fund which is relatively new. Just six years ago, the Queen Elizabeth Stakes handed out $500,000 in prize money. An increase in sponsorships and funding have led to more prize money streaming into the race’s prize pot.

4. The Golden Slipper Stakes

First held in 1957, The Golden Slipper Stakes boasted a prize pack of $3.5m for this year’s event. The Golden Slipper Stakes is the richest races for two-year-olds. The race is run at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Western Sydney and sees horses compete over 1,200 metres. The 2019 edition of the race was won by Kiamichi. 

5. Cox Plate and Caulfield Cup

The Cox Plate is one of the most historic and prestigious horse races in Australia. It makes sense then that the race would pay out a whopping $5m in prize money. First held in 1922, the race is run over 2,040 metres. The Cox Plate is actually tied for fifth as Australia’s richest horse race with the Caulfield Cup. Inaugurated in 1879, the Caulfield Cup is held every October and brings together horses aged three and older. Although a handicap race, the Caulfield Cup may one day be changed to a weight-for-age event, just like the Cox Plate. 

Prizemoney is not the only reason an owner wants to win a horse race, but when they have a high quality thoroughbred, why not gather the huge prizes on offer along the journey.

Category: Racing

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