Insights into national thoroughbred racing for Monday 25 November 2024 to Sunday 1 December 2024. *
There were
44 race meetings held across Australia last week with
3,237 horses competing in
331 races for a total prize money purse of
$18,112,875.
THE MEETINGS
Metropolitan – 12 meetings (average in season 2023-24 was 9).
Provincial – 13 meetings (average in season 2023-24 was 11).
Country – 19 meetings (average in season 2023-24 was 25).
THE RACES
Metropolitan – 103 races (average in season 2023-24 was 76).
Provincial – 93 races (average in season 2023-24 was 82).
Country – 135 races (average in season 2023-24 was 177).
Maidens – 98 races (average in season 2023-24 was 99).
THE STARTERS
Metropolitan – 1,049 starters (average in season 2023-24 was 754).
Provincial – 920 starters (average in season 2023-24 was 765).
Country – 1,268 starters (average in season 2023-24 was 1,638).
Scratched – 1,111 (average in season 2023-24 was 852).
THE TRACK CONDITIONS
Wet – 199 races (average in season 2023-24 was 110).
Dry – 132 races (average in season 2023-24 was 211)
THE PRIZE MONEY
Metropolitan – $11,377,000 (average in season 2023-24 was $10,025,122).
Provincial – $2,814,500 (average in season 2023-24 was $2,838,521).
Country – $3,921,375 (average in season 2023-24 was $4,672,404).
PRIZE MONEY: BIG BICKIES
Metropolitan – $1,500,000 for race 8, MCA Polytrack - Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot WA on Saturday. Won by Overpass.
Provincial – $60,000 for race 4, Pioneer Services Super Mdn Plate at Hawkesbury NSW on Thursday. Won by First Mission.
Country – $304,000 for race 8, Haymes Paint Jericho Cup (Bm90) at Warrnambool VIC on Sunday. Won by Farag.
THE HORSES
First starters – 167 (average in season 2023-24 was 154).
Maidens – 959 runners in 98 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 – 54 runners (average in season 2023-24 was 100).
Imported and international runners – 2 runners had their first start in Australia.
Country of origin – AUS 2,857 NZ 297 IRE 49 GB 18 FR 7 USA 6 GER 1 BRZ 1 JPN 1.
THE BREEDING
The number of individual stallions which sired all 3,237 runners – 501.
The number of winners sired by Australian-bred stallions – 226 in all 331 races.
The number of individual stallions which sired the winners – 186.
THE JOCKEYS
A total of 439 individual jockeys rode the 3,237 runners which started in the 331 races.
Jockeys averaged 3.2 rides per meeting.
The number of apprentice jockeys – 123.
The number of individual jockeys who rode a winner – 192.
The number of winners ridden by apprentices – 90.
The number of individual jockeys who recorded a top 3 finish – 337.
THE TRAINERS
The number of trainers (partnership entities and individuals) who had runners – 1,095.
The number of trainer partnerships vs. individual trainers – 75 partnerships and 1,020 individuals.
The number of trainers who had winners 234.
The number of trainers who had a runner finish in the top three – 539.
THE MARKETS
The average starting price of winners was $7.3 (average in season 2023-24 was $7.09).
The number of favourites which won – 134 or 39.07% (average in season 2023-24 was 119 or 33.73%).
The number of favourites which placed 2nd – 64 or 18.66% (average in season 2023-24 was 71 or 20.07%).
The number of favourites which placed 3rd – 35 or 10.2% (average in season 2023-24 was 47 or 13.42%).
The number of unplaced favourites – 110 or 32.07% (average in season 2023-24 was 115 or 32.77%).
The number of odds-on favourites which won – 33 or 52.38% (average in season 2023-24 was 76 or 49.78%).
The number of favourites which won on a dry track – 53 (average in season 2023-24 was 75).
The number of favourites which won on a wet track – 81 (average in season 2023-24 was 38).
AND, OTHER INTERESTING BITS
The most winning TAB saddle cloth – number 4 with 51 winners.
The longest priced winner – Alia Asahi at $151 in race 1 at Geelong VIC on Wednesday.
Biggest winning margin – 7.70 lengths by Our Destrier in race 4 at Ceduna SA on Saturday.
Horses which broke maiden status after more than 25 starts: none.
Most winning barrier – 5. In the 331 races, 44 winners jumped from barrier 5.
The number of greys which won on a wet track – 7 of a total of 65 greys which competed on wet tracks.
The number of internationals having first start in Australia who won – 0.
The number of 12-year-old starters – 1.
The average age of a starter – 4.8 years.
The number of favourites which finished last –
3 (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.