Book Australia Party Bus Hire To Attend The Randwick Championships!
Located in the eastern suburbs of Sydney, the Royal Randwick Racecourse is one of the oldest horse racing venues in Australia. The track is leased to the Australian Turf Club, and is popularly known among the race-goers as the Headquarters. Located 6 kilometres away from Sydney CBD, this racecourse has a circumference of 2224 metres and a home straight of 410m. Since the year 2014, it has been hosting the 2-day Championships event in April, with total prize money worth AUD$20 million. Other annual race meets include the Chinese Festival of Racing, the Spring Carnival, and the Sydney Carnival. This year, why not use Australia party bus hire to bring your squad to this mega event?
History Behind The Royal Randwick
It was in January 1833, when the land was first designated by the NSW Governor Richard Bourke to be used as a racecourse. Hyde Park used to be the premiere horseracing venue till that time. A private racing event in 1833 was the first ever race meet held at the sandy course of Randwick. In 1863, the property was granted to Australian Jockey Club, which later merged with Sydney Turf Club in 2011 to become the Australian Turf Club. In 1992, when Queen Elizabeth II visited the racecourse, she granted the permission for the venue to be recognized as Royal Randwick.
About The Randwick Championships
Known as the grand finale of Australian racing, The Championships is a huge platform where world-class horseracing action takes place over a period of two days. More than $20 million is up for grabs, as some of the best in business compete in this premier sporting event held annually. Here’s what you should be looking forward to:
The Star Doncaster Mile
Day 1 kicks off with the Doncaster Handicap Group 1 thoroughbred race for horses of three years and above. The total length of the racing track is 1600 metres or 1 mile, with total prize money of $3,000,000 AUD to be won. With its inception way back in 1866, earlier it used to be held on Easter Monday. Till date, many great horses have won the race, and some of them have created history by winning consecutive events. Last year, Winx made it to the finishing line by taking the lead 300 metres out against Hartnell. The legendary trainer T.J. Smith has a record of winning the race a total of seven times.
TJ Smith Stakes
The TJ Smith Stakes Group 1 horserace of Australian Turf Club is run over a distance of 1200 metres at Weight for Age, with a total prize money worth $2,500,000 AUD. The inaugural event was known by the name of Endeavour Stakes and was held in 1997. Later in 1999, it was named after the trainer TJ Smith, who holds a record of winning 33 racing titles in Sydney. By virtue of the stakes offered, the race has risen in reputation, attracting high calibre sprinters such as Takeover Target and Black Caviar. For the last two years, Chautauqua has been ruling the roost, winning the event on both the occasions.
BMW Australian Derby
The $2 million BMW Australian Derby will be the big highlight of the first day held at the Royal Randwick course during the Autumn Carnival. This group 1 2400 metre set weights race is specifically for 3 years old horses. Worth an attractive reward to the winner, and possibly much more in breeding revenue, the Australian Derby is a highly sought after event, for which many runner go through the 2000m Rosehill Guineas and 1600m Randwick Guineas in an attempt to win the Derby. Last year the competition was won by TAVAGO, and as per the rules, winners are exempted from ballot for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Sires’ Produce Stakes
Registered by the name of Sires Produce Stakes, the Inglis Sires’ is a Group 1 thoroughbred race for two-year old horses at set weight runs totalling a length of 1400 metres at the track. The first ever race was held in 1867, when Glencoe won by running a mile. Forming the middle leg of the 2-year old ‘Triple Crown’, consisting of Champagne Stakes and Golden Slipper Stakes, the Inglis Sires is worth a prize money of $1 million AUD, which was won by Yankee Rose in 2016.
Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes
The 2nd day of The Championships will be followed by the richest 2000m turf race in the world, the Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Regarded as the most prominent weight-for-age competition during the Autumn Carnival, the winner of this event will join the likes of Lonhro, Tulloch and Lucia Valentina who won last year,
Ran over a distance of 2000 metres, the inception of this racing style is associated with colonial Sydney, when thoroughbred racing became popular in 1840s and 1850s. In the early phase of 20th century, the race held on to its prestige, but with the decreasing popularity in long-distance race meets, Sydney Cup became the premier event of the Autumn Carnival. After several changes, 2000 metres was fixed as the race length in 1986.
Sydney Cup
Initially, the Sydney Cup was conducted on the final weekend of the Autumn Racing Carnival. However, from 2014, it is held on the 2nd day of The Championships alongside Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes and Group1 Australian Oaks. Drawing some of the best stayers in the country, this 3200-metre race is run under open handicap conditions, with a prize amount worth $1,600,000.
The first ever race was held way back in 1863, when Talleyrand emerged victorious. After the introduction of metric system in 1973, the distance was fixed to 3200 metres, which was originally a length of 16 furlongs. Successful runners of this event often make their way to the Melbourne Cup, the richest race in Australia. The legendary Makybe Diva holds the record for winning both the Melbourne Cup and Sydney Cup in the same year.
Apart from all the intense racing action, there will be an appetising selection of gourmet food from the finest restaurants in Sydney. You will be overwhelmed by a stunning line-up of live musical performances, entertainment, incredible fashion and award winning hospitality. So book with Party Bus Guru today and go to the Championships in style!