The Underwood Stakes is a Group 1 horse race held at the Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne every September. Forming part of the prestigious Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival, it is a Weight-For-Age race over 1,800 metres, headlining the Underwood Stakes Day as the first Group 1 race of the season. The race offers $350,000 in prize money for horses three-years-old and over and is often a good indicator as to the outcome of the Turnbull Stakes (2,000 metres) a few days following.
Underwood Stakes Information
- Date: September
- Carnival: Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival
- Racecourse: Caulfield Racecourse, Melbourne
- Distance: 1,800 metres
- Race Type: 3YO Plus, Weight-For-Age
- Group Listing: Group 1
- Prize Money: $350,000
Underwood Stakes History
First run in 1924 at the Werribee Racecourse, the Underwood Stakes was won by Whittier, and moved to the Caulfield Racecourse in 1948. The distance of the race has changed over the years originally spanning eight furlongs, and then increasing to nine furlongs in 1949 before increasing to 10 furlongs five years later. In 1972 it converted to 2,000 metres and found its current distance of 1,800 metres in 1994.
Since the races inception the Underwood Stakes has seen many great names take the victory such as Phar Lap (1931), Beau Gem (1949, 1950), Rain Lover (1969), Tie The Knot (1998) and Weekend Hussler (2008).
