Group 2 Races
Group 2 races are among the top echelon of horse racing in Australia. Group 1 races have the highest status in racing; however these races are closely followed in prestige by Group 2 races. Group 2 races offer a minimum of $150,000 in prize money and 83 Group 2 races are run in Australia every year. The recommendation to designate a particular race as Group 2 is first made by the Australian Pattern committee. Races that are deemed to meet the proper standard of racing are then approved by the Australian Racing Board.
One of the most famous of the Group 2 races is the Makybe Diva Stakes which is held in September each year at Flemington Racecourse. This race is worth $500,000 in prize money and is run over a distance of 1600 metres. Other well-known Group 2 races include the Brisbane Cup, Adelaide Cup and the Winterbottom Stakes.
Group 2 races are usually held as part of racing carnivals hosted by metropolitan race clubs, such as the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival. Many of these Group 2 races are as well-renowned and popular as their fellow Group 1 races and attract much attention from both the racing industry and spectators alike.
Group 2 Horse Races
- Adelaide Cup
- Ajax Stakes
- Alister Clark Stakes
- Angus Armanasco Stakes
- Apollo Stakes
- Arrowfield 3YO Sprint
- ATC Chairman’s Handicap
- Australia Stakes
- Autumn Classic
- Autumn Stakes
- Blamey Stakes
- Blazer Stakes
- Blue Diamond Prelude (Fillies)
- Bobbie Lewis Quality
- BRC Sires Produce Stakes
- Breeders Classic
- Brisbane Cup
- Caulfield Sprint
- Challenge Stakes
- Champagne Classic
- Chelmsford Stakes
- Crystal Mile
- Dane Ripper Stakes
- Danehill Stakes
- Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes
- DC Mckay Stakes
- Doomben Roses
- Eagle Farm Cup
- Eagle Farm Cup (PJ O’Shea Stakes)
- Edward Manifold Stakes
- Emancipation Stakes
- Euclase Stakes
- Expressway Stakes
- Furious Stakes
- Gilgai Stakes
- Golden Pendant
- Herbert Power Stakes
- Hill Stakes
- Hobartville Stakes
- Hollindale Stakes
- Karrakatta Plate
- Kewney Stakes
- Lee Steere Stakes
- Let’s Elope Stakes
- Light Fingers Stakes
- Magic Night Stakes
- Matriarch Stakes
- McEwen Stakes
- Millie Fox Stakes
- Missile Stakes
- Moonee Valley Cup
- Moonee Valley Fillies Classic (Moonee Valley Oaks)
- Moonee Valley Vase
- Moreton Cup
- Pago Pago Stakes
- PB Lawrence Stakes
- Perth Cup
- Peter Young Stakes (St George Stakes)
- Phar Lap Stakes
- Premiere Stakes
- Queen Of The South Stakes
- Queensland Guineas
- Reisling Stakes
- Roman Consul Stakes
- Rubiton Stakes
- Run To The Rose
- Salinger Stakes
- Sandown Guineas
- Sapphire Stakes
- Schillaci Stakes
- Shannon Stakes
- Silver Shadow Stakes
- Silver Slipper Stakes
- Skyline Stakes
- Stan Fox Stakes
- Stutt Stakes
- Sunline Stakes
- Sweet Embrace Stakes
- Tea Rose Stakes
- Ted Van Heemst Stakes
- The Shorts
- Theo Marks Stakes
- Thousand Guineas Prelude
- Todman Stakes
- Tramway Stakes
- Tristarc Stakes
- Tulloch Stakes
- Victory Stakes (Sir Byrne Hart Stakes)
- Villiers Stakes
- VRC Sires Produce Stakes
- WA Guineas
- Wakeful Stakes
- WATC Derby
- WH Stocks Stakes
- Yallambee Stakes
- Zipping Classic (Sandown Classic)