Turnbull Stakes
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ClassGroup 1
LocationFlemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia
Inaugurated1865 (as VRC Royal Park Stakes)
Race typeThoroughbred - Flat racing
 Bernborough, 1946 winner | |
| Class | Group 1 |
|---|---|
| Location | Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia |
| Inaugurated | 1865 (as VRC Royal Park Stakes) |
| Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
| Sponsor | TAB (2024) |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 2,000 metres |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | Four years old and older that are not maidens |
| Weight | Set weights with penalties |
| Purse | A$750,000 (2024) |
| Bonuses | Winner exempt from ballot in the Caulfield Cup |
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The Turnbull Stakes is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race, for horses four years old and older, run under set weights with penalties conditions over a distance of 2,000 metres. The race is held at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia in early October. Total prize money is A$750,000.[1]
Name
It is one of the important races of the Spring Racing Carnival and is considered a major preparatory race for the Caulfield Cup, W S Cox Plate and for the Melbourne Cup.
In 1948 the race was renamed after the Victoria Racing Club Chairman at the time Richard Turnbull.[2]
The race has featured in the VRC Spring meet under different names.[3]
- 1865–1894 - Royal Park Stakes
- 1895–1897 - September Stakes
- 1898–1936 - October Stakes
- 1937–1947 - Melbourne Stakes
- 1948–1999 - Turnbull Stakes
- 2000–2001 - Four'n Twenty Turnbull Stakes
- 2002–2007 - Turnbull Stakes
- 2008 - Patinack Turnbull Stakes
- 2009–2014 - Turnbull Stakes
- 2015–2016 - Yellowglen Turnbull Stakes
- 2017 Seppelt Turnbull Stakes
- 2018 onwards - TAB Turnbull Stakes
Grade
- 1865–1978 - Principal Race
- 1979–2005 - Group 2
- 2006 onwards - Group 1
Distance
- 1865–1883 – 2 miles (~3200 metres)
- 1884 - 13⁄4 miles (~2800 metres)
- 1885–1890 – 2 miles (~3200 metres)
- 1891 - 15⁄8 miles (~2600 metres)
- 1892–1894 - 11⁄2 miles (~2400 metres)
- 1895–1915 - 11⁄4 miles (~2000 metres)
- 1915–1922 - 11⁄2 miles (~2400 metres)
- 1923 - 11⁄4 miles (~2000 metres)
- 1924 - 11⁄8 miles (~1800 metres)
- 1925–1947 - 1 mile (~1600m)
- 1948–1970 - 11⁄2 miles (~2400 metres)
- 1971 - 11⁄4 miles (~2000 metres)
- 1972 onwards - 2000m
Conditions
- From 1864 to 1963 the race was run under Handicap conditions.
- From 1964 to 1970 the race was run under Weight for Age conditions.
1948 racebook
1948 VRC Turnbull Stakes racebook front cover
1948 VRC Turnbull Stakes raceday officials
1948 VRC Turnbull Stakes raceday notices
1948 VRC Turnbull Stakes showing the winner, Beau Gem
1948 VRC Turnbull Stakes starters and results
Back cover showing railway and admission charges
Gallery of noted winners
Ajax, 1938, 1940 winner
Lavendo, 1915 winner
Comic Court, 1949 & 1950 winner
Eurythmic, 1920 winner
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