The J. J. Atkins

The J. J. Atkins is a Brisbane Racing Club Group 1 Australian Thoroughbred horse race horse race for two year olds run at set weights over a distance of 1600 metres at Eagle Farm Racecourse, Brisbane in June.^[1] Total prizemoney is A$500,000.

Race history

The race was for long considered the premier two-year-old race of the Brisbane Winter Carnival. It has been renamed several times since its inaugural running as The Claret Stakes. In 1999 the race name was renamed after legendary trainer T.J. Smith. In 2013 the race was once again renamed to honour Queensland trainer Jim Atkins who won every major staying race in the Brisbane area except a QTC Oaks - a race in which he had seven minor placegetters. He won the Brisbane premiership four times.^[2]

Outback Prince, winner of the 2004 T J Smith

Race name

• 1893–1975 - Claret Stakes^[3]
• 1976–1982 - Marlboro Stakes^[4]
• 1983–1987 - Castlemaine Stakes
• 1988 - Channel Nine Stakes
• 1989–1994 - Castlemaine Stakes
• 1995–1998 - Q.T.C. Classic
• 1999–2012 - The T. J. Smith
• 2013 onwards - The J. J. Atkins

Race grade

• 1893–1979 - Principal Race
• 1980–1984 - Group 2
• 1985 onwards - Group 1

Race distance

• 1893–1904 - 6 furlongs (~1200 metres)
• 1905–1954 - 7 furlongs (~1400 metres)
• 1955–1972 - 1 mile (~1600 metres)
• 1973 onwards - 1600 metres

The winners

See also

• List of Australian Group races
• Group races

References