Racing NSW and the Australian Turf Club today announced further exciting enhancements to Australia’s richest racing Carnival – the Sydney Everest Carnival.
The inaugural King Charles III Stakes carrying prizemoney of $5million will be run on Saturday 14 October 2023 at Royal Randwick alongside The TAB Everest. The King Charles III Stakes named in honour of His Majesty the King, is a Group 1 race to be run over 1600m at weight-for-age conditions.
A member of the Royal Procession on Day 2 of the 2022 Royal Ascot Carnival, Peter V’Landys is again in the UK for the Royal Ascot carnival and spoke with King Charles about the new namesake event to be first held later this year.
In addition, The TAB Everest prizemoney will increase to $20million, recognising the continued success of this event and the incredible halo effect that it has created benefiting the entire NSW Thoroughbred Racing Industry, for the entire year.
Additional prizemoney increases and new races as set out below will see a further $12 million of prizemoney available throughout the Sydney Everest Carnival following these announcements.
The revised Sydney Everest Carnival feature meetings are summarised below:
The TAB Everest and King Charles III race meeting will be run at Royal Randwick on Saturday 14 October 2023 and will include the following feature races
14 October 2023: Royal Randwick
- The TAB Everest, $20 million, 1200m WFA
- King Charles III Stks, Gr1 $5 million 1600m WFA
- Sydney Stks, Gr3 $2 million 1200m WFA
- Kosciuszko, $2 million 1200m
- Silver Eagle, $1 million 1300m 4yo
- St Leger, $500,000 2600m SWP
- Angst Stks, Gr3 $250,000 1600m Mares
The Golden Eagle race meeting will be run at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday 4 November 2023 and will feature the following races
4 November 2023: Rosehill
- Golden Eagle, $10 million 1500m 4yo
- Giga Kick Stks, $3 million 1300m SWP
- Rosehill Gold Cup, $750,000 2000m Qlty
- Four Pillars, $500,000 1500m Midway
Former Sydney Turf Club and Racing NSW Chairman the Late Alan Brown AM to be honoured
The race meeting on Saturday 7 October 2023 will be run at Rosehill Gardens racecourse and headlined by the Alan Brown Stakes with prizemoney of $1.5 million to be run over 1400m named after former STC and Racing NSW Chairman Alan Brown and by the Group 2 Hill Stakes with prizemoney of $2 million.
7 October 2023: Rosehill
- Hill Stks, Gr2 of 2 million WFA 2000m
- Alan Brown Stks, of $1.5 million 1400m
- Gloaming Stks, Gr3 of $500,000 1800m 3yo
- Tapp-Craig, of $500,000 1400m 3yo
- Roman Consul Stks, Gr2 of $300,000 1200m 3yo
- The Nivison, Gr3 of $300,000 1200m Mares
The Spring Champion Stakes and The Invitation will be run at Royal Randwick on Saturday 28 October 2023.
28 October 2023: Royal Randwick
- Spring Champion Stks, Gr1 $2 million 2000m 3yo
- The Invitation, $2 million 1400m F/M
- Craven Plate, Gr3 $750,000 1800m WFA
- Callendar-Presnell, $1 million 1600m 3yo
- Brian Crowley Stks, LR $200,000 1200m 3yo
The Big Dance will be run for the second time on Tuesday 7 November 2023.
7 November 2023: Royal Randwick
- Big Dance, $3 million 1600m Qlty Hcp
- Little Dance, $750,000 1600m Qlty Hcp
- Choisir Hcp, $300,000 1100m Hcp
- Country Hcp, $250,000 1300m Spec Cond Ctry NSW
Racing NSW Chairman Russell Balding said “The King Charles III Stakes creates a new level of excitement for the Sydney Everest Carnival, with a feature open age mile race boosting an already mouth-watering Everest Day meeting.”
“It is also befitting for Royal Randwick to have a feature race in Spring named in honour of His Majesty, to compliment the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes in Autumn, with Royal Randwick being Australia’s only Royal Racecourse.”
The $12million boost to prizemoney during the Everest Carnival is one of a series of prizemoney increases Racing NSW have announced in recent years since the first running of the Everest in 2017 which in turn have in particular transformed the Sydney Spring Carnival.
“Racing makes a significant contribution to the NSW economy. Last year, more than 46,000 people attended The Everest at Royal Randwick and spent money at restaurants, pubs and hotels across the city,” Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris said.
“The increased prizemoney for The Everest and the addition of the King Charles III race will create an even bigger and better event this year, with positive flow on effects for the 50,000 people directly and indirectly employed in the NSW racing industry.”
“At $20 million of prizemoney, The TAB Everest is now the second richest race in the world and the richest race on Turf. This further increase in prizemoney is not only recognition of The TAB Everest as being the highest rated race in Australia, but also of the success this event has created in flow on benefits throughout the entire NSW Thoroughbred Industry for the whole of the year.
“Since its inaugural running in 2017, The TAB Everest has consistently rated as the highest or equal highest sprint race in the world.” Mr Balding concluded.
Summary of Changes to the Spring Carnival Program
- The King Charles III Stakes replaces the George Main Stks, previously scheduled for 16 September 2023 and takes on that race’s Group 1 status and will be run on Everest Day, 14 October 2023.
- The $1 million Silver Eagle, 1300m will again be run on Everest Day, 14 October 2023, along with the Angst Stakes, Group 3.
- The $10 million Golden Eagle on Saturday 4 November 2023.
- The Spring Champion Stakes, Group 1 and The Invitation, both of $2 million prizemoney will headline the race meeting on Saturday 28 October 2023.
- The $750,000 Craven Plate, Group 3 1800m will also be run on Saturday 28 October 2023, moving away for Everest Day with the King Charles III Stakes being added to that program.
Saturday 7 October 2023 will be scheduled at Rosehill Gardens racecourse, with the meeting headed by the Hill Stakes, Group 2 1900m of $2 million and a new race the Alan Brown Stakes, 1400m Hcp of $1.5 million.
The change of venue for the Australian Turf Club meeting on this day provides for a two week break between the Epsom Hcp, Group 1 and The Everest/King Charles III Stakes race meetings at Royal Randwick on 14 October 2023.
- A new race, The 7 Stakes, WFA 1600m, replaces the previous George Main Stakes on 16 September 2023 to be run for prizemoney of $1 million.
- The race meeting on Saturday 21 October 2023 at Royal Randwick will feature the $1 million Five Diamonds Prelude, 1500m and Big Dance Wild Card.
Following the recent announcement that the Big Dance will be run for prizemoney of $3 million, a further $500,000 will be added to support races on Big Dance race program on 7 November 2023 at Royal Randwick.
The Hunter race meeting will be held on Saturday 18 November 2023 at Newcastle racecourse and The Gong will be held at Kembla Grange racecourse on Saturday 25 November 2023.
