Stradbroke Handicap

The Stradbroke Handicap is a Group 1 race held each year in Brisbane at Eagle Farm Racecourse. Run over 1400 metres for $1,360,000 in prize money, this event is a major part of the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival. The Stradbroke Handicap has been run since 1890, making it one of the oldest thoroughbred races on the Queensland calendar.

The Stradbroke Handicap is named after Lord Stradbroke, relative to Henry John Rous, originator of the weight-for-age scale in thoroughbred racing. Originally run over a distance of 6 furlongs, this event became a 7 furlong race in 1953 and a 1400 metre race in 1972 with the advent of the metric system. The inaugural race was won by Pyrrhus, with a number of other notable names winning this event over the years.

Some well known horses to have won this event include Rough Habit in 1991 and 1992, All Our Mob in 1994, and Dane Ripper in 1997. A number of horses have also managed to win the Stradbroke Handicap more than once, including Gold Tie in 1918-19, Highland in 1925-26, Petrol Lager in 1934-35, Lucky Ring in 1949-50, Rough Habit in 1991-92, and Black Piranha in 2009-10.

In recent times, winners of the Stradbroke Handicap include Sincero in 2011, Mid Summer Music in 2012, and Linton in 2013. Stradbroke Handicap Day is the biggest day of the year at Eagle Farm Racecourse, with a total of three Group 1 races held on the day. Along with the Stradbroke Handicap, racegoers can also look forward to the Queensland Derby for three-year-olds and The JJ Atkins for two-year-olds.

Possible lead-up races for the Stradbroke Handicap include the Group 1 Doomben 10000 at Doomben and the Group 2 QTC Cup at Eagle Farm Racecourse. Private Steer in 2003, Show A Heart in 2002, Adam in 1999, All Our Mob in 1994, and Rough Habit in 1992 all finished runner-up in the Doomben 10000 prior to winning this race.