The Sydney Carnival , a.k.a. Sydney Autumn Carnival, is a major Australian Thoroughbred racing series held in Sydney in March and April each year. It consists of six weeks of racing conducted by Australian Turf Club across the city's two primary racecourses: Royal Randwick and Rosehill Gardens . The most important races include the AAMI Golden Slipper Stakes , the world's richest race for two-year-old horses, the BMW Stakes , the Rosehill Guineas , the Australian Derby , the Doncaster Handicap and the Sydney Cup . The 2015 Sydney Autumn Carnival consists of 20 Group 1 races, and offers $ 26.5 million in prize money.
42-655: Inaugurated in 2014 and dubbed "The Grand Finals of Australian Racing", The Championships is held on two days over the Easter Holiday period. The Championships have combined previous stand alone races such as the Doncaster Mile, The Australian Derby, the Queen Elizabeth Stakes and The Sydney Cup into two weekends of racing with nearly $ 10 million prize money on offer each Saturday. The 2015 Championships will be hosted at Royal Randwick , known as
84-534: A handicap (expecting the European Free Handicap ), may not be divided into two or more divisions, may not have a standard entry fee exceeding 2% of the purse, must be open to geldings (excepting Group 1 races restricted to two- or three-year-olds), and must have a permanent element in the title. In addition, Group 1 races may only have sex and weight-for-age allowances, with no other weight penalties. France, Germany, Great Britain, and Ireland are
126-571: A totalisator , the fourth in the world to be installed. The building is now used as an event space and a bar on race days. The Owners Pavilion is located directly adjacent to the Theatre of the Horse and is a private space for racehorse owners. The pavilion was constructed at the same time as the new QEII Grandstand and ToTH. The Paddock Stand replaced the St Leger Stand and Grandstand and
168-568: A comprehensive Pattern of black type races with an emphasis on high-class, non-handicap races, limited in number and spread throughout the season to encourage the best horses to face each other. With the general principles laid out, Lord Porchester headed a further committee in 1967 to identify specific races, both in Britain and in other countries. By the late 1960s, a state of crisis had developed with regards to international racing in Europe. At
210-618: A list of Principal Races that qualified for black type. By the mid-1980s, international agreement had been made that all graded/group races would qualify for black type designation. In 1985, concern was raised regarding a lack of opportunity to earn black type in North American compared to Europe due to the lower percentage of stakes races. This led to the development of ungraded or non-listed black type races in North America. In 1985, unrestricted allowance or handicap races with
252-642: A minimum for the race's age/sex division, or it loses black type status. From 1971 to 1984, the top three finishers in a Graded/Group race were granted black type status. In 1985, this was expanded to the top four finishers in Graded/Group races and the top three finishers in qualified races in North America. Starting in 1989, races in Part III countries were no longer recognized as black type and rules were amended so that only in Group/Grade 1 races were
294-480: A purse of $ 30,000 or greater were given black type status and designated with a Q for Qualified Race. Other added money or black type races were designated with an O or OR. In 1986, new rules for black type status in North American races were drawn up, defining listed stakes with purses of $ 50,000 or more and other added-money stakes with purses of $ 15,000 (raised to $ 20,000 in 1987) to $ 49,999. The minimum purse to qualify for black type status for other added-money stakes
336-554: A venue for many other events including concerts and religious masses . In 1970, Pope Paul VI celebrated mass at Randwick as part of his pastoral visit to Australia. The Racecourse was also the site of a mass held by Pope John Paul II in 1995 for the Beatification ceremony of Australia's first potential saint Mary MacKillop . It was also the site of the vigil and final mass of World Youth Day 2008 in July 2008. Racing
378-578: Is Crown Land leased to the Australian Turf Club and known to many Sydney racegoers as headquarters. The racecourse is located about six kilometres south-east from the Sydney Central Business District in the suburb of Randwick . The course proper has a circumference of 2224m with a home straight of 410m. On 14 October 2017, the inaugural running of The Everest was held at Royal Randwick. The Everest
420-458: Is also used as an exam venue by the University of New South Wales . In addition, the annual Future Music Festival was held at the racecourse from 2006 until it was cancelled in 2015. The Queen Elizabeth II (QEII) Grandstand is the main grandstand building. Originally constructed in 1969, it was torn down to its bare structure and rebuilt into the current state in 2012 and reopened to
462-632: Is printed in bold type in sales catalogues. The International Grading and Race Planning Advisory Committee (IRPAC), part of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA), enforces quality standards for the designation of group and graded races internationally. The Group race system divides races into one of four categories, based on their prestige and quality. Group/Grade 1 The highest level, for races with major international importance considered to be of championship standard, including Classics . Examples include
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#1732782340180504-650: Is the accepted authority for Group and Listed status in Australia. In Europe the designation of flat races is agreed by the European Pattern Committee. The Committee grades races depending on the average official ratings achieved by the first four finishers in a race over a three-year period. There is no minimum purse money across Europe. The breakdown is as follows: Under the European Pattern, Group and Listed races may not be run as
546-618: Is the richest race in Australia and the richest turf race in the world with $ 15 million in prize money. Since 2014, Randwick hosts The Championships, a two-day season-ending meeting in April that offers over AUD$ 20 million in prize money. It features several Group 1 races such as the Australian Derby , Doncaster Handicap and Queen Elizabeth Stakes . Other annual events include the Sydney Carnival , Spring Carnival and
588-831: The Jockey Club of Canada established the Canadian Graded Stakes Committee to take over the task. In 2012, the North American International Cataloging Standards Committee announced the implementation of additional quality control requirements for non-listed black type races in North America. The Organización Sudamericana de Fomento del Sangre Pura de Carrera (OSAF) oversees the grading of stakes races in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela. The Asian Pattern Committee
630-604: The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe , Kentucky Derby , Melbourne Cup , Japan Cup , and Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini . Group/Grade 2 Races that have significant international importance, but are below a championship standard. Examples include the Doncaster Cup , Black-Eyed Susan Stakes , Sandown Guineas , Daily Hai Nisai Stakes , and Grande Prêmio Bento Gonçalves . Group/Grade 3 Other races of note, mainly of national rather than international importance. Examples include
672-588: The Royal Whip Stakes , British Columbia Derby , Hawkesbury Gold Cup , and Challenge Cup . Listed Races below the standard of graded or group races, but still run by horses of notable merit and performance quality. In 1943, Lord Ilchester 's Racing Reorganisation Committee first proposed the idea of a planned racing program for Great Britain. This idea was returned to in 1965, when the Duke of Norfolk 's Pattern of Racing Committee proposed formalizing
714-730: The Sha Tin Racecourse . The Asian Pattern Committee is the accepted authority for Group and Listed status in Japan, and the Japanese Graded Stakes Committee monitors and approves the grading system. All Japan Racing Association (JRA) graded stakes were opened to foreign-trained horses in 2010. In the United States and Canada, the equivalent are known as graded stakes races . The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) manages
756-581: The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) began a project grading North American stakes races and American races were first designated with graded designations, mirroring group designations in Europe. The categorical system stakes races began to spread to other countries, with Germany and Italy soon joining Great Britain, France, and Ireland in the European Pattern, Brazil starting to designate group races in 1975, Australia introducing group races in 1976, New Zealand doing
798-772: The ARB is accepted by the International Cataloguing Standards Committee (ICSC) for publication by The Jockey Club (US) in The Blue Book , thus providing international recognition for Australia's best races. Minimum purse values for group races in Australia are as follows: Australia has a total of approximately 540 to 550 Group races from a season total of almost 21,000 races. These races were collectively known as Principal Races until about 1979. Handicap races in Australia are eligible for group status. The Asian Pattern Committee
840-497: The American Graded Stakes Committee, which manages the determination of black type and grading of races in the United States. Minimum purse requirements for races are as follows: Graded races may be run in divisions (so long as the total purse among all the divisions is at least 150% that of the original purse) and may be handicaps. From 1973 to 1997, TOBA also graded Canadian races, but in 1998
882-587: The Chinese Festival of Racing. In January 1833, NSW Governor Richard Bourke designated the land for use as a racecourse. Up until then, Hyde Park in the Sydney CBD had been the main venue for racing within the city. The first race held at Randwick was a private event held in June 1833. The course was originally known as the 'Sandy Course' due to the condition of the ground. In 1840 racing ceased at
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#1732782340180924-514: The Pattern are gradual and evolutionary, thereby giving the racing industry time to adjust. In particular, the current European Pattern Committee "Ground Rules" explicitly state that no race may be upgraded by more than one Group in any one year. Great Britain has minimum purse values for some group races, as follows: There are 31 Group races held in Hong Kong . All group 1 races were held in
966-783: The United States Graded Stakes Committee granted the seven new Breeders' Cup races Grade 1 status, despite having never been run before, an unprecedented move. In 2015, the Commonwealth Cup became the first new race inaugurated with Group 1 status in the history of the European Pattern. In 1952, for their sales catalogs, Fasig-Tipton began to designate stakes winners in a pedigree using bold-face type, with winners in all caps and stakes-placed runners in mixed case, in an attempt to show buyers and breeders horses and races of note. Keeneland followed suit in 1960. In 1963, Blood Horse published
1008-542: The club reads: "You do not need me to tell you how much The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh enjoyed their visit to the Royal Randwick Racecourse today. Her Majesty was particularly glad that she was able, on this occasion, to legitimise your traditional title of "Royal" and to open a very handsome new Grandstand." The following is a list of Group races which are contested at Randwick Racecourse. Besides horseracing, Randwick Racecourse has been used as
1050-552: The current operators of Royal Randwick Racecourse. On 22 February 1992, Queen Elizabeth II visited Randwick Racecourse and opened the Paddock Stand. On this date, upon request, the Queen granted permission for the venue to be known as Royal Randwick. From this date the venue was officially able to be referred to as 'Royal Randwick'. An extract from a letter from Kenneth Scott , Deputy Private Secretary to Queen Elizabeth II, to
1092-581: The first edition of Cataloguing Standards for foreign racing. Two years later, the Jockey Club Statistical Bureau took over publication. The International Cataloguing Standards Committee (ICSC) and Society of International Thoroughbred Auctioneers (SITA) later defined more precisely specific races in which horses could earn black type. In 1971, the Australian Conference of Principal Race Clubs (ACPRC) developed
1134-961: The highest level of races in Thoroughbred horse racing . They include most of the world's iconic races, such as the Derby , Irish Derby and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in Europe , the Melbourne Cup in Australia , and the Kentucky Derby and Breeders' Cup races in the United States . Victory in these races marks a horse as being particularly talented, if not exceptional, and they are extremely important in determining stud values. They are also sometimes referred to as Black type races, since any horse that has won one of these races
1176-539: The home of Thoroughbred racing in Sydney. Racing days are 4 and 11 April 2015. The Championships is attempting to attract global interest in Sydney Racing, and in 2015 six international horses will be participating. The Canterbury racetrack, after being granted federal government approval, is to be used as a quarantine training and stabling area for overseas horses. In 2014, The Queen Elizabeth Stakes prize money
1218-410: The increase in international racing. British, French, and Irish authorities met in 1970 to discuss developing a Pattern race system, and in 1971 the European Pattern Committee was established and the first European Pattern published. European authorities began to push North American jurisdictions to develop a similar system designating prominent races to promote international competition. In 1973,
1260-571: The member countries of the European Pattern Committee, with Italy, Scandinavia (Denmark, Norway, and Sweden), and Turkey as associate members. The pattern system, overseen by the European Pattern Committee, is fluid and the Group status of key races can change. By this method, the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot was upgraded from Group 2 to Group 1 in the year 2000. However, a number of checks and balances are in place which ensure that changes to
1302-403: The public in 2013. It is 110m in length and 6 storeys high. The Official / Members Stand was constructed in 1886 and still remains today although it has been extended and modified multiple times, in 1907, 1914 and 1920. The Theatre of the Horse, also known as the "ToTH", is an outdoor auditorium for the presentation of thoroughbred racehorses both before and after a race. The ToTH is linked to
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1344-475: The same in 1979, and Japan implementing a graded race structure in 1984, among other countries. In 1983, the International Cataloguing Standards Committee (ICSC) and Society of International Thoroughbred Auctioneers were created and the first International Cataloguing Standards Booklet was published, with the objective of preventing discrepancies and imbalances in the designation of Group or Grade and black type status among different jurisdictions. In 1984,
1386-460: The time, weight penalties were determined by the amount of money won. French races were significantly richer than those in other European countries, resulting in complaints that many important French races were being "plundered" by foreign horses carrying less weight. Pressure was being applied to restrict races to only horses trained in France in order to prevent this, which would have greatly hampered
1428-616: The top four finishers granted black type. The following year, the rules were once again amended, so that only the top three finishers in black type races are granted black type status. The recognition of the black type status of jump races is based on regional preference. In Australia , the Australian Pattern Committee recommends to the Australian Racing Board (ARB) which races shall be designated as Group races. The list of races approved by
1470-544: The track-front via a tunnel in which the horses access the track. The ToTH has a capacity of 4,500 and is also used for live music events and functions. The construction of the ToTH was not without controversy, many racegoers have criticised the space for not being located trackside. The Saddling Paddock Tote Building, known as the Octagonal bar, is located behind the main grandstand. It was initially constructed in 1917 to house
1512-619: The venue and was only used for training. In the early 1840s, the Australian Jockey Club (AJC) was formed and in 1860 moved its headquarters to Randwick. In May of that year, racing resumed at the venue with a crowd of 6,000 people attending. In 1863 the land was officially granted to the AJC and was held until 2011 when the AJC and the Sydney Turf Club (STC) merged to become the Australian Turf Club (ATC). The ATC are
1554-495: Was a two-storey, long, horizontal structure. The stand was formally opened by Queen Elizabeth II in February 1992, it was also on this occasion that the Queen certified Randwick as "Royal". The Paddock Stand was demolished in 2012 to make way for the new QEII Grandstand. The Tea House was a large structure at 50m long, 27m wide and two storeys high and could accommodate 1,000 racegoers. The original Tea house burnt down in 1917 and
1596-466: Was immediately reconstructed to the same specifications. The Tea House was demolished in 2012 as part of the upgrades to the current layout. The Ladies Stand, also known as the Queens or Royal Stand was constructed in 1910 and remained until 1998. The First Grandstand was constructed for the first race meeting at Randwick and was made of American timber. Designed by architect John Frederick Hilly , it
1638-439: Was intended to be temporary but stood for 15 years. The Second Grandstand, also known as the Paddock Stand, was constructed to replace the initial grandstand constructed on site. It was extended in 1907 and 1914 and remained for more than 100 years to 1988 when it was demolished to make way for the new Paddock Stand. Group races Group races , also known as Pattern races , or Graded races in some jurisdictions, are
1680-663: Was raised to $ 25,000 starting in 1990. Over the years, the minimum purse for black type status in North American races has increased, and is $ 50,000 as of 2023. In 2012, the North American ICSC introduced a scoring system to determine whether or not non-listed stakes should be granted black type. Since 2014, each race is assigned a Race Quality Score (RQS), based on speed figures for the top four finishers with data from Bloodstock Research Information Services (BRIS), Beyer Speed Figure from Daily Racing Form , Equibase, and Thoro-Graph. The three-year average RQS must meet
1722-653: Was raised to $ 4 million, becoming the richest race of the Sydney Autumn Carnival. Another iconic race is the Doncaster Mile , which offers $ 3 million in prize money. This horse racing -related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Randwick Racecourse Royal Randwick Racecourse is a racecourse for horse racing located in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney , New South Wales . Randwick Racecourse
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1764-589: Was stopped for several weeks, due to the alterations needed to hold over 400,000 people. This move had been opposed by the Randwick Trainers Association, which holds lease interests over some areas intended to be used for the event. The dispute was resolved, by the federal government and the state government jointly pledging $ 40 million as reimbursement to the racing industry. The famous racecourse has also appeared in several films, including Mission: Impossible 2 . Randwick Racecourse
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