Australian Group 1 racing
AUSTRALIAÂ is home to some of the premier Group 1 races in the world.
Millions are spent by owners and trainers each year to secure the prime thoroughbreds to compete for riches beyond the average man’s wildest dreams.
For us dreamers it comes down to the punt and watching these prized race horses strut their stuff – with no better viewing than the Group 1 feature races around the country.
Much of this prize money is available through betting at various tote agencies and online sports betting sites, who pay money to the governing bodies, who in turn can give it back to the winning connections.
The Pattern Committee of the Australian Racing Board, prior to each racing season, decides which races will be given group and listed status.
The obvious biggest carrot on the Group 1 calendar is the Melbourne Cup, a 3200m staying race at Flemington racecourse; which these days is a race that attracts the best two milers in the world.
Other big races on the calendar include the Caulfield Cup, a race that is probably second only to the Melbourne Cup, in terms of prestige and it being the biggest race at Melbourne’s other city track Caulfield.
The Cox Plate is one of the richest races in the world and is often a good indicator of who will challenge for the Melbourne Cup, soon after. The Caulfield Cup-Melbourne Cup double is something truly cherished on the Australian turf.
Below are all the Group 1 races scheduled for the 2023/24 racing season.
Group 1 race dates for 2023/24 season
2023 | |
---|---|
August 19 | Winx Stakes |
September 2 | Memsie Stakes |
September 16 | Makybe Diva Stakes |
September 23 | Golden Rose Stakes |
September 23 | Underwood Stakes |
September 29 | Moir Stakes |
September 30 | Epsom Handicap |
September 30 | Flight Stakes |
September 30 | The Metropolitan |
October 7 | Turnbull Stakes |
October 14 | Caulfield Guineas |
October 14 | Might And Power Stakes |
October 14 | Toorak Handicap |
October 14 | King Charles III Stakes |
October 21 | Caulfield Cup |
October 28 | Manikato Stakes |
October 28 | Cox Plate |
October 28 | Spring Champion Stakes |
November 4 | Victoria Derby |
November 4 | Coolmore Stud Stakes |
November 4 | Empire Rose Stakes |
November 7 | Melbourne Cup |
November 9 | VRC Oaks |
November 11 | VRC Champions Stakes |
November 11 | Champions Sprint |
November 11 | Champions Mile |
November 18 | Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes |
November 18 | Thousand Guineas |
November 25 | Railway Stakes |
December 2 | Winterbottom Stakes |
December 9 | Northerly Stakes |
Betting on group 1 racing in Australia
Australians have plenty of choice when it comes to how and where they bet on horse racing in Australia. Some of the obvious choices are at the track, where you can bet on the tote or with a bookmaker.
Probably the most popular way for Australians to bet in 2015 is via the Internet and online bookies, where you can get a swag of freebets through sign-up bonuses and offers for existing customers.
If you are on a mobile device you can download the app from the iOS App store or the Google Play store here, or if on another device you can visit the mobile sites from the below links.
You can read more about bookmakers for Australians here, or some of our favourites include: