Group 3 races account for almost half of all group races run each year. Group races as a whole are the most prestigious type of horse racing for thoroughbreds in Australia, and are internationally recognised. Group races are said to have “Black Type” status, which is of high importance to breeders, owners and racing clubs. Group races were initially known as Principal Races until their name was changed in 1979.

In order to qualify for Group 3 status, a race must have minimum prize money of $100,000. The majority of these races are held during racing carnivals, and are run as a lead up to some of the more lucrative Group 1 and Group 2 races. Some of the most popular Group 3 races run each year include the Lexus Stakes, which offers prize money of $250,000 and is held over a distance of 2500 metres at Flemington Racecourse on Victoria Derby Day, as well as the Randwick City Stakes held during Sydney’s Autumn Racing Carnival. The Randwick City Stakes is contested over a distance of 2,000 metres and offers prize money of $125,000. Other notable Group 3 races in Australia include the Blue Diamond Prelude, Hobart Cup, Breeders Stakes and the Gold Coast Guineas. In total, there are 112 Group 3 races in Australia each year.

Group 3 Horse Races

• Adrian Knox Stakes
• AJ Scahill Stakes
• Angst Stakes
• Asian Beau Stakes
• Auraria Stakes
• Aurie’s Star Handicap
• Begonia Belle Stakes
• Belle Of The Turf Stakes
• Belmont Sprint
• Bendigo Cup
• Bill Ritchie Handicap
• Birthday Card Stakes
• BJ McLachlan Plate
• Black Opal Stakes
• Bletchingly Stakes
• Blue Diamond Prelude (C & G)
• Blue Sapphire Stakes
• Bow Mistress Trophy
• BRC Chairman’s Handicap
• BRC Sprint
• Breeders Stakes
• Cameron Handicap
• Cape Grim Beef Stakes
• Carbine Club Stakes
• Carlyon Cup
• Caulfield Classic
• Caulfield Guineas Prelude
• Chatham Stakes
• Cockram Stakes
• Colin Stephen Quality
• Colonel Reeves Stakes
• Concorde Stakes
• Craven Plate
• CS Hayes Stakes
• Dark Jewel Classic
• David Jones Cup
• Easter Cup
• Eclipse Stakes
• Eliza Park International Stakes
• Epona Stakes
• Frances Tressady Stakes
• Frank Packer Plate
• Fred Best Classic
• Geelong Cup
• Geoffrey Belmaine Stakes
• George Moore Stakes
• Glenlogan Park Stakes
• Gloaming Stakes
• Gold Coast Guineas
• Grand Prix Stakes
• Gunsynd Classic
• Hawkesbury Gold Cup
• HDF McNeil Stakes
• Hobart Cup
• How Now Stakes
• Hyperion Stakes
• Jansz National Stakes
• JRA Cup
• Keith F Nolan Classic
• Kevin Heffernan Stakes
• Kindergarten Stakes
• Kingston Town Stakes
• Ladies Day Vase
• Launceston Cup
• Lee Steere Classic
• Liverpool City Cup
• Lord Mayors Cup
• Lord Reims Stakes
• Mannerism Stakes
• Maribyrnong Plate
• Matron Stakes
• Maybe Mahal Stakes
• Ming Dynasty Quality
• Moonga Stakes
• MVRC Champagne Stakes
• Naturalism Stakes
• Neville Sellwood Stakes
• Newcastle Gold Cup
• Newcastle Newmarket Handicap
• Newcastle Spring Stakes
• Norman Robinson Stakes
• Northerly Stakes
• Ottawa Stakes
• Premier’s Cup
• Prince Of Wales Stakes
• Queen’s Cup
• Quezette Stakes
• RA Lee Stakes
• Red Anchor Stakes
• Red Roses Stakes
• RJ Peters Stakes
• RN Irwin Stakes
• Roma Cup
• Rough Habit Plate
• Royal Parma Stakes
• Royal Randwick Stakes
• SA Fillies Classic
• SAJC Sires Produce Stakes
• San Domenico Stakes
• Sandown Stakes
• Sheraco Stakes
• Show County Quality
• Sir John Monash Stakes
• Southern Cross Stakes
• Spring Stakes
• Standish Handicap
• Star Kingdom Stakes
• Strickland Stakes
• Summer Cup
• Summoned Stakes
• Sunshine Coast Guineas
• Tattersall’s Cup
• The Bart Cummings
• The Heath 1100
• The Lexus Stakes
• The Nivison
• The Vanity
• Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes
• Thoroughbred Club Stakes
• Tibbie Stakes
• TL Baillieu Handicap
• Toy Show Quality
• Up And Coming Stakes
• Vain Stakes
• Victoria Handicap
• Vo Rogue Plate
• WA Champion Fillies Stakes
• WA Oaks
• WA Sires Produce Stakes
• WJ Healy Stakes
• Zeditave Stakes