Insights into national thoroughbred racing for Monday 18 November 2024 to Sunday 24 November 2024.*
There were 51 race meetings held across Australia last week with 3,422 horses competing in 360 races for a total prize money purse of $17,569,500.
THE MEETINGS
Metropolitan – 10 meetings (average in season 2023-24 was 9).
Provincial – 13 meetings (average in season 2023-24 was 11).
Country – 28 meetings (average in season 2023-24 was 25).
THE RACES
Metropolitan – 87 races (average in season 2023-24 was 76).
Provincial – 92 races (average in season 2023-24 was 82).
Country – 181 races (average in season 2023-24 was 177).
Maidens – 109 races (average in season 2023-24 was 99).
THE STARTERS
Metropolitan – 924 starters (average in season 2023-24 was 754).
Provincial – 909 starters (average in season 2023-24 was 765).
Country – 1,589 starters (average in season 2023-24 was 1,638).
Scratched – 869 (average in season 2023-24 was 852).
THE TRACK CONDITIONS
Wet – 89 races (average in season 2023-24 was 110).
Dry – 251 races (average in season 2023-24 was 211)
THE PRIZE MONEY
Metropolitan – $10,511,000 (average in season 2023-24 was $10,025,122).
Provincial – $2,576,000 (average in season 2023-24 was $2,838,521).
Country – $4,482,500 (average in season 2023-24 was $4,672,404).
PRIZE MONEY: BIG BICKIES
Metropolitan – $1,500,000 for race 8, Swan Draught - Railway Stakes at Ascot WA on Saturday. Won by Port Lockroy.
Provincial – $60,000 for race 3, Blakes Marine Super Mdn Plate at Hawkesbury NSW on Thursday. Won by Blue Illusion.
Country – $200,000 for race 8, bet365 Kilmore Cup at Kilmore VIC on Sunday. Won by Cosmic Vega.
THE HORSES
First starters – 171 (average in season 2023-24 was 154).
Maidens – 1,054 runners in 109 races (average number of maiden runners each week in season 2023-24 was 949 and the average number of races was 99).
Two-year olds – 28 runners (average in season 2023-24 was 100).
Imported and international runners – 6 runners had their first start in Australia.
Country of origin – AUS 3,099 NZ 252 IRE 35 GB 23 FR 9 USA 2 SAF 1 GER 1.
THE BREEDING
The number of individual stallions which sired all 3,422 runners – 498.
The number of winners sired by Australian-bred stallions – 247 in all 360 races.
The number of individual stallions which sired the winners – 189.
THE JOCKEYS
A total of 474 individual jockeys rode the 3,422 runners which started in the 360 races.
Jockeys averaged 3.1 rides per meeting.
The number of apprentice jockeys – 138.
The number of individual jockeys who rode a winner – 214.
The number of winners ridden by apprentices – 100.
The number of individual jockeys who recorded a top 3 finish – 359.
THE TRAINERS
The number of trainers (partnership entities and individuals) who had runners – 1,141.
The number of trainer partnerships vs. individual trainers – 69 partnerships and 1,072 individuals.
The number of trainers who had winners 255.
The number of trainers who had a runner finish in the top three – 583.
THE MARKETS
The average starting price of winners was $6.75 (average in season 2023-24 was $7.09).
The number of favourites which won – 134 or 35.36% (average in season 2023-24 was 119 or 33.73%).
The number of favourites which placed 2nd – 74 or 19.53% (average in season 2023-24 was 71 or 20.07%).
The number of favourites which placed 3rd – 56 or 14.78% (average in season 2023-24 was 47 or 13.42%).
The number of unplaced favourites – 115 or 30.34% (average in season 2023-24 was 115 or 32.77%).
The number of odds-on favourites which won – 30 or 48.39% (average in season 2023-24 was 76 or 49.78%).
The number of favourites which won on a dry track – 99 (average in season 2023-24 was 75).
The number of favourites which won on a wet track – 29 (average in season 2023-24 was 38).
AND, OTHER INTERESTING BITS
The most winning TAB saddle cloth – number 2 with 50 winners.
The longest priced winner – Atoyo at $81 in race 3 at Moe VIC on Thursday.
Biggest winning margin – 7.06 lengths by Private Harry in race 8 at Hawkesbury NSW on Thursday.
Horses which broke maiden status after more than 25 starts: Miss Pebbles (Launceston TAS), Coventry Reef (Narrogin WA).
Most winning barrier – 4. In the 360 races, 47 winners jumped from barrier 4.
The number of greys which won on a wet track – 6 of a total of 20 greys which competed on wet tracks.
The number of internationals having first start in Australia who won – 1.
The number of 12-year-old starters – 1.
The average age of a starter – 4.9 years.
The number of favourites which finished last –
9 (average in season 2023-24 was
10).
* A couple of things about our stats: wet track definition is Soft 5 to Heavy 10; synthetic tracks excluded from dry tracks; averages rounded; equal favourites included.