The Epsom Handicap is a Gr 1 Australian horse race run by
3-year-olds and above over 1600m in early October each year at
Sydney's Randwick Racecourse in Sydney. With a purse of AUD$600,000,
the Epsom Handicap is considered to be one of the feature races of
the prestigious Sydney Spring Carnival.
Inaugurated in 1863, the Epsom Handicap has long been acknowledged
as a the ideal showcase for many of Australia's best 'milers'. And
as such, over the years the race has yielded many worthwhile
winners, many of which have also triumphed in other big races. Sky
High, Gunsynd and Chatham are just a few examples.
The running of the Epsom Derby has gone virtually uninterrupted
since it was conceived. However, in 2007 the race was cancelled due
to an outbreak of horse flu across Australia. Considered one of the
'toughest' Gr 1 races held annually at Randwick, the Epsom Handicap
is on a par with the Doncaster Handicap in April.
The Epsom Handicap is run on the same day as the 2400m Metropolitan
which is the most important staying race of the Sydney Spring
Carnival. For racehorse trainers across Australia, a win in the
Epsom Derby is highly coveted and important in terms of cementing
the racing credentials of their top milers.
Memorable Epsom Handicap winners include Amounis in 1926, Nightmarch
in 1929, Chatham? in 1932 and 1933, Gunsynd in 1971, Imposing
in 1979, Super Impose in 1990 and 1991, Desert war in 2004 and 2005,
and Theseo in 2008. |
