Suvarna Garge (Editor)

Epsom Handicap

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Inaugurated
  
1865

Sponsor
  
TAB (2016)

Surface
  
Turf

Race type
  
Thoroughbred - flat

Distance
  
1,600 metres

Epsom Handicap

Location
  
Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, Australia

The Epsom Handicap is an Australian Turf Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race from horses three years old and older, under handicap conditions over a distance of 1,600 metres at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, Australia in early October. Prize money is A$1,000,000.

Contents

Race History

In 1897 Jim McHugh weighing 4 stone 4 pounds (27 kg) and aged 11 years and 4 months was having his second race ride ever, on Robin Hood in the Epsom Handicap and won the race.

Jockey, Donald Nicolson won the race in succession five times from 1880 to 1884 and came fifth in 1885. He was killed a few weeks later when his mount fell in the 1885 Caulfield Cup.

It is one of the major races of the ATC Spring Carnival. Many great milers have won the race, including Chatham, Gunsynd, and Super Impose, who was also a dual winner of the autumn equivalent, the Doncaster Handicap.

Race name

The race was named after the famous Epsom Downs Racecourse in the South of England where the classic three-year-old Epsom Derby has been contested since 1780.

Race grade

  • 1865–1978 - Principle Race
  • 1979 onwards - Group 1
  • Race distance

  • 1865–1878 - 1 mile (~1600 metres)
  • 1879–1884 - 118 miles (~1800 metres)
  • 1885–1971 - 1 mile (~1600 metres)
  • 1972–2000 – 1600 metres
  • 2001 – 1400 metres (run at Randwick's inner course known as the Kensington)
  • 2002 onwards - 1600 metres
  • Race venue

  • 1865–1982 - Randwick Racecourse
  • 1983 - Warwick Farm Racecourse
  • 1984 onwards - Randwick Racecourse
  • References

    Epsom Handicap Wikipedia