The Emirates Stakes is a Group 1 horse race held by the Victoria Racing Club as part of the Melbourne Cup Carnival at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne every November. Held on the final day of the Carnival it spans 1,600 metres as a quality handicap offering a handsome sum of $1.5 million in prize money. Held four days after the Melbourne Cup, there are many races to gauge form, the best being the Chatham Stakes, the Crystal Mile and the Toorak Handicap.
Emirates Stakes Information
- Date: November
- Carnival: Melbourne Cup Carnival
- Racecourse: Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne
- Distance: 1,600 metres
- Race Type: Open Quality Handicap
- Group Listing: Group 1
- Prize Money: $1.5 million
Emirates Stakes History
The Emirates Stakes, originally the Cantala Stakes, was first run in 1981 and taken out by Courtenay. The event has had many name changes over the years the first being in 1961 when it became the George Adams Handicap, since then it has been known as the Ampol Stakes, the Honda Stakes, the Nissan Stakes and the Chrysler Stakes, since 1998 it has been known as the Emirates Stakes. From its inception to 1895 the race took place over 9 furlongs, but decreased to 8, it was in 1975 that the Emirates Stakes found its current distance of 1,600 metres.
