2010 George Main Stakes

The George Main Stakes is a 1600 metre weight-for-age race run by the Australian Jockey Club. The race is held in late September at Randwick during the Sydney Spring Racing Carnival.

Race Type: Group 1, Open WFA
Distance: 1600m
Track: Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, New South Wales
Date: 25 Sep 2010

George Main Stakes Racing Odds – Click Here

The George Main Stakes was first run in 1945 over a distance of 8 furlongs (about 1600 metres) and was won by Modulation. The race has remained at the same distance and was converted to 1600 metres in 1972. It became a Group 1 race in 1980 and was run at Warwick Farm in 1983 and 2001. In 2007 it was not held because of equine influenza (EI) which disrupted the Spring Carnival.

George Main was a former chairman of the Australian Jockey Club. He also bred racehorses and ran sheep with his wife Mary on their grazing property “Retreat” west of Cootamundra on the southwest slopes of New South Wales. The race named in his honour attracts top class milers and solid 2000 metre horses.

Several races are used as lead-ups including the NJC Spring Stakes (1600 metres) and Cameron Handicap (1400 metres) both ran at Newcastle, the Theo Marks Stakes (1300 metres), Shannon Quality Handicap (1500 metres) and Gloaming Stakes (1800 metres for 3YOs) at Rosehill, and the Chelmsford Stakes (1600 metres) at Randwick. The winner of the George Main is exempt from a ballot on the Epsom Handicap, and horses who run well head for the Epsom.

Several horses have won the George Main Stakes – Epsom double with the most recent being Racing To Win (2006). Kingston Town won the George Main Stakes – Cox Plate double twice in 1981 and 1982. Other notable winners include Shogun Lodge (1999), Juggler (1996), Durbridge (1994), Shaftesbury Avenue (1990), Campaign King (1987), Emancipation (1983), All Shot (1973), Baguette (1971), Wenona Girl (1963) and Shannon (1946 and 1947).

Past winners of the George Main Stakes: