Group 1 races are the highest level of horse racing events in Australia, as well as most countries around the world. Their significant presitige and high prizemoney are a major drawcard for owners, trainers and jockeys.
Often horses from overseas will be lured by the significant value on offer for winning horses, which also includes lucrative prospects in their career after racing (breeding in stud).
Group 1 races can be restricted by age group or sex and may be run under handicap or weight-for-age conditions.
Some of the most famous Group 1 races in Australia include the Melbourne Cup, Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate, Victoria Derby and the Golden Slipper.
There are some very high profile races in Australia which do not qualify for Group 1 status, given their unique qualification structure. These races include the Magic Millions, the All Star Mile and The Everest.
The majority of Group 1 races in Australia are schelduled during the Autumn and Spring racing carnivals, held in Sydney and Melbourne.
The Winter carnival in Brisbane has seen an increase in notoriety in recent years, whilst the Summer carnival is popular in Perth. Adelaide has it's time in the spotlight in May.
Below is a schedule of all Australian Group 1 races, including the race track they are held at, how much prize money is on offer, the distance of the race as well as the conditions that the race is run under.
Autumn Carnival |
|||||
| Month | Track | Race Name | Prizemoney | Distance | Conditions |
| February | Caulfield | C F Orr Stakes | $ 500,000 | 1400m | WFA |
| February | Flemington | Black Caviar Lightning | $ 750,000 | 1000m | WFA |
| February | Caulfield | Blue Diamond Stakes | $ 1,500,000 | 1200m | 2yo SW |
| February | Caulfield | Oakleigh Plate | $ 500,000 | 1100m | Open Hcp |
| February | Caulfield | Futurity Stakes | $ 500,000 | 1400m | WFA |
| March | Flemington | Australian Guineas | $ 1,000,000 | 1600m | 3yo SW |
| March | Randwick | Chipping Norton Stakes | $ 600,000 | 1600m | WFA |
| March | Randwick | Surround Stakes | $ 200,000 | 1400m | 3yoF SW |
| March | Flemington | Australian Cup | $ 1,500,000 | 2000m | WFA |
| March | Flemington | Newmarket Handicap | $ 1,250,000 | 1200m | Open Hcp |
| March | Randwick | Randwick Guineas | $ 1,000,000 | 1600m | 3yo SW |
| March | Randwick | Canterbury Stakes | $ 500,000 | 1300m | WFA |
| March | Rosehill | Coolmore Classic | $ 600,000 | 1500m | F&M Qlty |
| March | Flemington | All Star Mile (Not Group 1) | $ 5,000,000 | 1600m | WFA |
| March | Moonee Valley | William Reid Stakes | $ 500,000 | 1200m | WFA |
| March | Rosehill | Golden Slipper | $ 3,500,000 | 1200m | 2yo SW |
| March | Rosehill | George Ryder Stakes | $ 1,000,000 | 1500m | WFA |
| March | Rosehill | Ranvet Stakes | $ 700,000 | 2000m | WFA |
| March | Rosehill | Rosehill Guineas | $ 600,000 | 2000m | 3yo SW |
| March | Rosehill | The Galaxy | $ 350,000 | 1100m | Open Hcp |
| March | Rosehill | Tancred Stakes | $ 1,500,000 | 2400m | WFA |
| March | Rosehill | Vinery Stud Stakes | $ 500,000 | 2000m | 3yoF SW |
| April | Randwick | Doncaster Mile | $ 3,000,000 | 1600m | Open Hcp |
| April | Randwick | TJ Smith Stakes | $ 2,500,000 | 1200m | WFA |
| April | Randwick | Australian Derby | $ 2,000,000 | 2400m | 3yo SW |
| April | Randwick | Sires Produce Stakes | $ 1,000,000 | 1400m | 2yo SW |
| April | Randwick | Queen Elizabeth Stakes | $ 4,000,000 | 2000m | WFA |
| April | Randwick | Sydney Cup | $ 2,000,000 | 3200m | Open Hcp |
| April | Randwick | Queen Of The Turf Stakes | $ 1,000,000 | 1600m | F&M WFA |
| April | Randwick | Australian Oaks | $ 1,000,000 | 2400m | 3yoF SW |
| April | Randwick | All Aged Stakes | $ 600,000 | 1400m | WFA |
| April | Randwick | Champagne Stakes | $ 500,000 | 1600m | 2yo SW |
Winter Carnival |
|||||
| May | Morphettville | Robert Sangster Stakes | $ 1,000,000 | 1200m | F&M WFA |
| May | Morphettville | Australasian Oaks | $ 500,000 | 2000m | 3yoF SW |
| May | Morphettville | SA Derby | $ 600,000 | 2500m | 3yo SW |
| May | Doomben | Doomben 10000 | $ 750,000 | 1200m | WFA |
| May | Morphettville | The Goodwood | $ 1,000,000 | 1200m | Open SW+P |
| May | Doomben | Doomben Cup | $ 650,000 | 2000m | WFA |
| June | Doomben | Kingsford Smith Cup | $ 750,000 | 1300m | WFA |
| June | Doomben | Queensland Oaks | $ 500,000 | 2200m | 3yoF SW |
| June | Doomben | Stradbroke Handicap | $ 1,500,000 | 1350m | Open Hcp |
| June | Doomben | Queensland Derby | $ 600,000 | 2200m | 3yo SW |
| June | Doomben | JJ Atkins | $ 600,000 | 1600m | 2yo SW |
| June | Doomben | Tattersalls Tiara | $ 500,000 | 1350m | F&M SW |
Spring Carnival |
|||||
| August | Randwick | Winx Stakes | $ 500,000 | 1400m | WFA |
| August | Caulfield | Memsie Stakes | $ 1,000,000 | 1400m | WFA |
| September | Randwick | George Main Stakes | $ 500,000 | 1600m | WFA |
| September | Flemington | Makybe Diva Stakes | $ 750,000 | 1600m | WFA |
| September | Caulfield | Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes | $ 500,000 | 1400m | Open Hcp |
| September | Rosehill | Golden Rose | $ 1,000,000 | 1400m | 3yo SW |
| September | M. Valley | AJ Moir Stakes | $ 1,000,000 | 1000m | WFA |
| September | Randwick | Epsom Handicap | $ 1,000,000 | 1600m | Open Hcp |
| September | Randwick | The Metropolitan | $ 750,000 | 2400m | 3yo&up Hcp |
| September | Randwick | Flight Stakes | $ 500,000 | 1600m | 3yoF SW |
| September | Caulfield | The Underwood Stakes | $ 750,000 | 1800m | WFA |
| October | Flemington | Turnbull Stakes | $ 500,000 | 2000m | 4yo+ SW+P |
| October | Randwick | The Silver Eagle (Not Group 1) | $ 500,000 | 1300m | 4yo SW |
| October | Randwick | Spring Champion Stakes | $ 500,000 | 2000m | 3yo SW |
| October | Caulfield | Thousand Guineas | $ 1,000,000 | 1600m | 3yoF SW |
| October | Caulfield | Caulfield Guineas | $ 2,000,000 | 1600m | 3yo Open SW |
| October | Randwick | The Kosciuszko (Not Group 1) | $ 1,300,000 | 1200m | SW |
| October | Randwick | The Everest (Not Group 1) | $ 14,000,000 | 1200m | WFA |
| October | Caulfield | Caulfield Stakes | $ 1,000,000 | 2000m | WFA |
| October | Caulfield | Toorak Handicap | $ 500,000 | 1600m | Open Hcp |
| October | Caulfield | Caulfield Cup | $ 5,000,000 | 2400m | Open Hcp |
| October | Moonee Valley | Manikato Stakes | $ 1,000,000 | 1200m | WFA |
| October | Moonee Valley | Cox Plate | $ 5,000,000 | 2040m | WFA |
| October | Randwick | Bondi Stakes (Not Group 1) | $ 1,000,000 | 1600m | 3yo SW |
| November | Flemington | Victoria Derby | $ 2,000,000 | 2500m | 3yo SW |
| November | Flemington | Kennedy Cantala | $ 2,000,000 | 1600m | Quality Hcp |
| November | Flemington | Coolmore Stud Stakes | $ 1,500,000 | 1200m | 3yo SW |
| November | Flemington | Empire Rose Stakes | $ 1,000,000 | 1600m | WFA F & 3Yo&up M |
| November | Rosehill | The Golden Eagle (Not Group 1) | $ 7,500,000 | 1500m | 4yo SW |
| November | Flemington | Melbourne Cup | $ 8,000,000 | 3200m | Open Hcp |
| November | Flemington | VRC Oaks | $ 1,000,000 | 2500m | 3yoF SW |
| November | Flemington | Mackinnon Stakes | $ 2,000,000 | 2000m | WFA |
| November | Flemington | VRC Sprint Classic | $ 1,000,000 | 1200m | WFA |
Summer Carnival |
|||||
| November | Ascot | Railway Stakes | $ 1,000,000 | 1600m | Open Hcp |
| November | Ascot | Winterbottom Stakes | $ 1,000,000 | 1200m | WFA |
| December | Ascot | Northerly Stakes | $ 1,000,000 | 1800m | WFA |
| January | Gold Coast | Magic Millions (Not Group 1) | $ 2,000,000 | 1200m | 2yo SW |
