The 2019 The Metropolitan is a Group 1 race that is held as part of the Sydney Spring Racing Carnival in early October each year at Royal Randwick Racecourse. Run over a stayer’s distance of 2,400 metres, The Metropolitan is worth $750,000 in prize money. The Metropolitan is run under handicap conditions and is open to horses aged three-years-old and upwards. The Metropolitan is run on Epsom Handicap Day with the Group 1 Epsom Handicap and Group 1 Flight Stakes.

The first The Metropolitan was run in 1867 when it was won by a horse called Tim Whiffler. It first began as a Principal race and was run over a distance of 16 furlongs (3200m) until the distance was decreased to 12 furlongs (2400m) in 1892. In 1920 The Metropolitan was increased to 13 furlongs (2600m) until 2001 when the race was decreased in length by 200 metres to today’s 2,400 metres. The Metropolitan was officially given its Group 1 status in 1979. The race was not run in 2007 due to an outbreak of Equine Influenza.

The most successful jockey to compete in The Metropolitan was K. Langby, who won the race five times on five different horses in the 1960’s and 1970’s. These horses include Striking Force (1965), Oncidon (1971), Analie (1973), Bon Teint (1975) and Ming Dynasty (1978). The race record was set by Hayai, who won The Metropolitan in a time of 2 minutes and 27.8 seconds in 1983.

Other notable horses to have won The Metropolitan include Kennaquhair (1918), Dashing Cavalier (1941), Delta (1951), Redcraze (1956), Monte Carlo (1958), Belmura Lad (1981), Natski (1988), Zamination (1993), Railings (2005), Newport (2008), Speed Gifted (2009) and Herculian Prince (2010).

2019 Metropolitan Handicap Field

The Metropolitan Handicap field famously attracts some of the best stayers in the business. The Metropolitan Handicap field is usually comprised of proven group winners, and as the only 2400m race in Sydney on the day it attracts a considerable number of nominations. When the 2019 Metropolitan Handicap field is released on the Tuesday leading-up to Epsom Handicap Day, it will be published here.

2019 Metropolitan Handicap Nominations

The 2019 Metropolitan nominations were released alongside those for the Epsom Handicap and Flight Stakes on Monday September 9, 2019. The 2019 Metropolitan nominations drew 94 stayers including a bumper 94 for trainer Chris Waller whose mare Girl Tuesday is one of the early favourites in betting along with ATC Derby winner Angel Of Truth.

Many talented horses have won The Metropolitan throughout its long history and below you will find a list of past winners and results since 2000.

The Metropolitan Past Winners & Results