Group races
Encyclopedia
Group races are the highest standard of Thoroughbred
horseraces in Australia
. The Australian Pattern Committee recommends to the Australian Racing Board
(ARB) which races shall be designated as Group races. The list of races approved by the ARB are accepted by the International Cataloguing Standards Committee
(ICSC) for publication by The Jockey Club
(US) in The Blue Book
, thus providing international recognition for Australia's best races. Group races are also said to have the status of "Black Type" races which is of great importance to owners, breeders and race clubs.
There are four grades of Group races in Australia:
Australia has a total of approximately 540 to 550 Group races from a season total of almost 21,000 races.
These races were collectively known as Principal Races until about 1979.
For a list of Group races see List of Australian Group races.
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
horseraces in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The Australian Pattern Committee recommends to the Australian Racing Board
Australian Racing Board
The Australian Racing Board is the peak national administration body for Thoroughbred racing in Australia. The statutory bodies for racing in each State or Territory, known as the Principal Racing Authorities, set up the Australian Racing Board by consensual agreement...
(ARB) which races shall be designated as Group races. The list of races approved by the ARB are accepted by the International Cataloguing Standards Committee
International Cataloguing Standards Committee
The International Cataloguing Standards Committee , formed in 1981, is an organization in Thoroughbred racing which aims at achieving uniformity of cataloguing standards throughout the world during the internationalization of thoroughbred breeding, racing, and marketing.-Composition:The committee...
(ICSC) for publication by The Jockey Club
The Jockey Club
The Jockey Club, formed on February 9, 1894, is the keeper of The American Stud Book. It came into existence after James R. Keene spearheaded a drive in support of racehorse trainers who had complained about the Board of Control that governed racing in New York State.-History:On its formation, The...
(US) in The Blue Book
Blue Book (racing)
The Blue Book is a publication of The Jockey Club which lists the highest standard of thoroughbred horseraces in the world, which are collectively known as Group races. Its publication is overseen and approved by the International Cataloguing Standards Committee of the Society of International...
, thus providing international recognition for Australia's best races. Group races are also said to have the status of "Black Type" races which is of great importance to owners, breeders and race clubs.
There are four grades of Group races in Australia:
- Group 1 - 64 races - minimum prizemoney A$350,000
- Group 2 - 83 races - minimum prizemoney A$175,000
- Group 3 - 112 races - minimum prizemoney A$115,000
- Listed Races - 280 races - minimum prizemoney A$80,000
Australia has a total of approximately 540 to 550 Group races from a season total of almost 21,000 races.
These races were collectively known as Principal Races until about 1979.
For a list of Group races see List of Australian Group races.
See also
- Conditions racesConditions racesConditions races are horse races where the weights carried by the runners are laid down by the conditions attached to the race. Weights are allocated according to; the sex of the runners, with female runners carrying less weight than males; the age of the runners, with younger horses receiving...
, the European equivalent - Graded stakes raceGraded stakes raceA graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...
, the North American equivalent - Group OneGroup OneGroup One or Group 1 is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. Group One races may be run under handicap conditions in Australia but in Europe weight-for-age conditions always apply. Races may be also restricted to age groups or a...
, the top level of horse races in both Europe and Australasia