The Metropolitan (ATC)

This article is about an Australian horse race. For the American horse race, see Metropolitan Handicap.

The Metropolitan
Group 1 race
Denis Boy,1932 winner.
Location	Randwick Racecourse
Inaugurated	1863
Race type	Thoroughbred - flat
Sponsor	McGrath Estate Agents (2014)
Race information
Distance	2,400 metres
Surface	Turf
Track	Right-handed
Qualification	three year olds and older
Weight	handicap conditions
Purse	A$400,000 (2014)

The Metropolitan is an Australian Turf Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race held under open handicap conditions, for horses aged three years old and upwards, over a distance of 2,400 metres at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, Australia in early October.^[1] The total prize money for this race is A$400,000.

History

The race when first run in 1863 was known as the Great Metropolitan Stakes.^[2] It is one of the main races in the Sydney Spring Carnival held in early October at Randwick Racecourse, along with the Epsom Handicap.^[1] Many great household names have won this race, but none have won the treble of The Metropolitan, Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup. Prior to 2004 the race was run on the first Monday in October, the Labour Day holiday.

Race name

• 1863–1888 - Great Metropolitan Stakes
• 1889–1897 - Metropolitan Stakes
• 1898–1978 - Metropolitan Handicap
• 1979 onwards - The Metropolitan

Race grade

• 1863–1978 - Principle Race
• 1979 onwards - Group 1

Race distance

• 1863–1891 - 2 miles (~3200 metres)
• 1891–1919 - 1¹⁄₂ miles (~2400 metres)
• 1920–1971 - 1⁵⁄₈ miles (~2600 metres)
• 1972–1982 - 2600 metres
• 1983 - 2400 metres
• 1984–2000 - 2600 metres
• 2001 onwards - 2400 metres

Race venue

The race has been the major long distance event in the Sydney Spring Racing Carnival and has been run at Randwick Racecourse, with one exception in 1983 when the race was run at Warwick Farm Racecourse.^[3]

Past winners

See also

• List of Australian Group races
• Group races

References