The Adelaide Cup is a

South Australian Jockey Club South Australian Jockey Club is the principal race club in South Australia. First racing events The first horse racing events in South Australia took place at a well-attended picnic meeting held over 1 and 2 January 1838. In August 1838, ridin ...

Group 2 The term Group 2 may refer to: * Alkaline earth metal, a chemical element classification * Astronaut Group 2, also known as The New Nine, the second group of astronauts selected by NASA in 1962 * Group 2 (racing), an FIA classification for cars in ...

Thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are c ...

handicap

horse race Horse racing is an equestrian performance sport, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its basic p ...

for three-year-olds and older, run over 3,200 metres at

Morphettville Racecourse Morphettville Racecourse is the main horse racing Race track, course for the Australia, Australian state of South Australia, incorporating two separate tracks. It is situated in the Adelaide suburb of Morphettville, South Australia, Morphettvi ...

Adelaide Adelaide ( ) is the capital city of South Australia, the state's largest city and the fifth-most populous city in Australia. "Adelaide" may refer to either Greater Adelaide (including the Adelaide Hills) or the Adelaide city centre. The dem ...

, Australia on the second Monday in March. Total prize money for the race is A$302,250.

History

The first Adelaide Cup was raced on 21 April 1864 at Thebarton Racecourse, where

Mile End Mile End is a district of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in the East End of London, England, east-northeast of Charing Cross. Situated on the London-to-Colchester road, it was one of the earliest suburbs of London. It became part of the m ...

is today. The race had stakes of 500 sovereigns with an additional sweep of 50 sovereigns to induce owners from other

colonies In modern parlance, a colony is a territory subject to a form of foreign rule. Though dominated by the foreign colonizers, colonies remain separate from the administration of the original country of the colonizers, the '' metropolitan state'' ...

to compete in the race. Victoria's P. Dowling's Falcon carried 10

stone In geology, rock (or stone) is any naturally occurring solid mass or aggregate of minerals or mineraloid matter. It is categorized by the minerals included, its Chemical compound, chemical composition, and the way in which it is formed. Rocks ...

1 pound and ridden by jockey J.Morrison won the race in a time of 3:50.50. A crowd of 7,000 or 8,000 was present for the event. The race was run at

Weight for Age {{use dmy dates, date=October 2022 Weight for Age (WFA) is a term in thoroughbred horse racing which is one of the conditions for a race. History The principle of WFA was developed by Admiral Rous, a handicapper with the English Jockey Club. Rous ...

over two miles from 1864–68. In 1869, still at Thebarton Racecourse, it was run as a handicap race over two miles. There was no Cup raced in 1870 or 1871. The Cup resumed in 1872 and was run at "The Old Course" (

Victoria Park Racecourse Victoria Park / Pakapakanthi, also known as Park 16, is a park located in the Southeastern Park Lands of the South Australian capital of Adelaide. It is bordered by Fullarton Road, Greenhill Road, East Terrace and Wakefield Road. It hosts a ...

) over two miles with a smaller stake of 200 sovereigns and an additional sweep of 15 sovereigns. In 1876 the race was held at

. In 1884 the race was run over 13

furlong A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and United States customary units equal to one eighth of a mile, equivalent to 660 feet, 220 yards, 40 rods, 10 chains or approximately 201 metres. It is now mostly confined to use in hors ...

s or miles (~2,600 metres), as was every race held until 1941. The Totalizator, whose operation on South Australian racecourses became legal in 1880, was abolished by the Totalizator Repeal Act of 1883, and the SAJC suffered a financial collapse. The racecourse was mortgaged and the 1885 Adelaide Cup was held at Flemington,

Victoria Victoria most commonly refers to: * Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada * Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory * Victoria, Seychelle ...

, and was not held for three more years. In 1889, running of the Cup resumed at Morphettville when Sir Richard Baker and A. O. Whitington took over the course. Starting on 1 March 1942, there was a ban on racing due to World War II and thus the race was not held in 1942 and 1943. In 1980 due to renovation of Morphettville Racecourse the race was run at

and in 2000 the Cup race day was abandoned due to rain and was rescheduled later and also run at Victoria Park. The highest ever Cup attendance was in 1951 when 50,000 spectators attended. The cup is held on the second Monday of March since March 2006. Before 2006 it was held in May. It was first run in 1864, just three years after the

Melbourne Cup The Melbourne Cup is a Thoroughbred horse race held in Melbourne, Australia. It is a 3200-metre race for three-year-olds and over, conducted by the Victoria Racing Club on the Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Victoria as part of the Melbou ...

commenced. The day received

public holiday A public holiday, national holiday, or legal holiday is a holiday generally established by law and is usually a non-working day during the year. Sovereign nations and territories observe holidays based on events of significance to their history, ...

status in 1973 and became a major social event in South Australia. In the decade since the move of the Adelaide Cup to March, attendance has fallen to a third of previous levels, seeing 10,500 people trackside in 2015. This is due to use of the public holiday by other "Mad March" events (the Adelaide Festival of the Arts, the associated Fringe Festival, the WOMAD world music festival, a touring car race the weekend prior). Thoroughbred Racing SA and the South Australian Jockey Club wish to move the race and its associated public holiday out of March. However the South Australian government Minister for Racing said "We can't be at the whim of a racing club that wants to dictate when the public holiday is going to be" and suggests if the race be moved again then it be held on a Saturday.

Grade

The race was a Principal Race from 1864 until 1979 and a Group 1 race from 1979 until 2006. The race was downgraded from

Group 1 Group 1 may refer to: * Alkali metal, a chemical element classification for Alkali metal * Group 1 (racing), a historic (until 1981) classification for Touring car racing, applied to standard touring cars. Comparable to modern FIA Group N * Group On ...

to Group 2 status following a decision by the Australian Pattern Committee in 2007.

Winners

* 2022 - Daqiansweet Junior * 2021 - Good Idea * 2020 – King Of Leogrance * 2019 – Surprise Baby * 2018 – Fanatic * 2017 – Annus Mirabilis * 2016 – Purple Smile * 2015 – Tanby * 2014 – Outback Joe * 2013 – Norsqui * 2012 – Rialya * 2011 – Muir * 2010 – Capecover * 2009 – Zavite * 2008 – Lacey Underall * 2007 – Gallic * 2006 – Exalted Time * 2005 – Demerger * 2004 – Pantani * 2003 – Pillage 'N Plunder * 2002 – The A Train * 2001 – Apache King * 2000 – Bohemiath * 1999 – Sheer Kingston * 1998 – The Hind * 1997 – Cronus * 1996 – French Resort * 1995 – Scrupulous * 1994 – Our Pompeii * 1993 – Our Pompeii * 1992 – Subzero * 1991 – Ideal Centreman * 1990 – Water Boatman * 1989 –

Lord Reims Lord Reims was a New Zealand-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who raced with success in Australia. Background Lord Reims was a chestnut son of Zamazaan (FR) from the mare Right On (NZ). He was trained in New Zealand by Cliff Fenwick at Takanini. ...

* 1988 –

* 1987 –

* 1986 – Mr. Lomondy * 1985 – Toujours Mio * 1984 – Moss Kingdom * 1983 – Amarant * 1982 – Dealer's Choice * 1981 – Just A Dash * 1980 – Yashmak * 1979 – Panamint * 1978 –

Hyperno Hyperno (1973–2002) was a Thoroughbred racehorse foaled in New Zealand. He was a wayward but brilliant galloper that won the Melbourne Cup and other group and listed races. He was sired by Rangong (GB) out of Mikarla (NZ) by Persian Garden II ...

* 1977 – Reckless * 1976 – Grand Scale * 1975 – Soulman * 1974 – Phar Ace * 1973 – Tavel * 1972 – Wine Taster * 1971 – Laelia * 1970 – Tavel * 1969 – Gnapur * 1968 –

Rain Lover Rain Lover (1964-1989) was a champion Australian Thoroughbred racehorse best remembered for his back-to-back wins in the 1968 and 1969 VRC Melbourne Cup. Background Rain Lover was sired by the good racehorse, Latin Lover (GB) (a son of the un ...

* 1967 – Fulmen * 1966 – Prince Camillo * 1965 – Hunting Horn * 1964 – Jamagne * 1963 – Woolstar * 1962 – Cheong Sam * 1961 – Far Away Places * 1960 – Lourdale * 1959 – Mac * 1958 – Star Aim * 1957 – Borgia * 1956 – Pushover * 1955 – Storm Glow * 1954 – Spearfolio * 1953 – Royal Pageant * 1952 – Aldershot * 1951 – Peerless Fox * 1950 – Peerless Fox * 1949 – Colin * 1948 – Sanctus * 1947 – Beau Cheval * 1946 – Little Tich * 1945 – Blankenburg * 1944 – Chief Watchman * 1943 – †''race not held'' * 1942 – †''race not held'' * 1941 – Yodvara * 1940 – Apostrophe * 1939 – Son Of Aurous * 1938 – Dartford * 1937 – Donaster * 1936 – Cape York * 1935 – Mellion * 1934 – Sir Roseland * 1933 – Infirmiere * 1932 – Romany Rye * 1931 – Suzumi * 1930 – Temptation * 1929 – Parallana * 1928 – Altimeter * 1927 – Three Kings * 1926 – Spearer * 1925 – Stralia * 1924 – Wynette * 1923 – King Ingoda * 1922 – Repique * 1921 – Sir Marco * 1920 – Wee Gun * 1919 – Dependence * 1918 – Elsdon * 1917 – Greencap * 1916 – St. Spasa * 1915 – Naxbery * 1914 – Hamburg Belle * 1913 – Midnight Sun * 1912 – Eye Glass * 1911 – Eye Glass * 1910 – Medaglia * 1909 – Kooringa * 1908 – Destinist * 1907 – Spinaway * 1906 – Dynamite * 1905 – Troytown * 1904 – Sport Royal * 1903 – Sojourner * 1902 – The Idler * 1901 – Gunga Din * 1900 – Tarquin * 1899 – Contrast * 1898 – Paul Pry * 1897 – Mora * 1896 – Warpaint * 1895 – Elswick * 1894 – Port Admiral * 1893 – Vakeel * 1892 – Jericho * 1891 – Stanley * 1890 – Shootover * 1889 – The Lawyer * 1888 – ''race not held'' * 1887 – ''race not held'' * 1886 – ''race not held'' * 1885 – ‡Lord Wilton * 1884 –

Malua Malua is a small village on the Samoan island of Upolu. The name originates from the Samoan word "Maluapapa" which is translated 'shelter under the rock'. It is located on the northwestern coast of the island in the electoral constituency (''faip ...

* 1883 – Sting * 1882 – Euclid * 1881 – Totalisator * 1880 – First Water * 1879 – Banter * 1878 – Glenormiston * 1877 – Aldinga * 1876 – Impudence * 1875 – Lurline * 1874 – Ace Of Trumps * 1873 – Dolphin * 1872 – Australian Buck * 1871 – ''race not held'' * 1870 – ''race not held'' * 1869 – Norma * 1868 – Cupbearer * 1867 – Cowra * 1866 – Cowra * 1865 – Ebor * 1864 – Falcon † Race not held due to a ban on war time racing in the state.
‡ Race held at Flemington,

after financial collapse of the SAJC which followed the Totalizator Repeal Act 1883.

References

{{Public holidays in Australia Horse races in Australia Open long distance horse races Sport in Adelaide Public holidays in Australia Autumn events in Australia

History

Grade

Winners

See also

References