The Railway Stakes is a 1600 metre racer for three-year-olds and upwards run under open handicap conditions. It is held by the Western Australia Turf Club at Ascot in November during the Perth summer racing carnival.
Race Type: Group 1, 3YO & Up Open Handicap
Distance: 1600m
Track: Ascot Racecourse, Perth, Western Australia
Date: 19 Nov 2010
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The Railway Stakes has a long history and was first run as a principal race over 12 furlongs (about 2400 metres) in 1887 when it was won by Nimrod. Like many of the older races it has had several changes in distance. From 1972 to 1981 it was run over 1500 metres and since 1984 it has been run over 1600 metres.
As the Melbourne Spring Carnival has finished good milers may travel to Perth for the big prizemoney on offer in the Railway Stakes. Local horses have a good record in the race possibly because they are more accustomed to the extreme heat conditions in Perth and horses from the eastern states can have difficulty coping with the high temperatures. In past years the race was often held in late December.
Major lead-up races to the Railway Stakes are the Group 2 Lee Steere Stakes over 1400 metres, the Group 3 Asian Beau Stakes over 1400 metres and the Group 3 RJ Peters Stakes over 1500 metres. After the Railway Stakes horses may go on to run in the Group 1 Kingston Town Classic over 1800 metres in two weeks time.
It is a tough race to win twice although Tudor Mak did it in 1968 and 1969. Often a horse who has placed will win the following year. Examples include Snipers Bullet who was second in 2008 then won in 2009, Hardrada was second in 2002 then won in 2003 and Old Comrade was second in 2000 and won in 2001. Better Loosen Up won in 1989 and went on to win the Cox Plate in 1990. Northerly won in 2000 and won the Cox Plate in 2001 and 2002 and the Caulfield Cup in 2002.
Past winners of the Railway Stakes:
| Year | Winner | Second | Third |
| 2010 | Gathering | Famous Roman | Megatic |
| 2009 | Sniper’s Bullet | Tarzi | Colour Correct |
| 2008 | Gilded Venom | Sniper’s Bullet | Annenkov (IRE) |
| 2007 | El Presedente | Hartley’s Dream | Mansion House |
| 2006 | Belle Bizarre | Confectioner | Niconero |
| 2005 | Covertly | Early Express | Blinded |
| 2004 | Modem | Mr Sandgroper | Blinded |
| 2003 | Hardrada | Early Express | Mapperholic |
| 2002 | Old Fashion | Hardrada | Corporate Bruce |
| 2001 | Old Comrade | Mr Tanzania | Finito |
| 2000 | Northerly | Old Comrade | Lizzy Long Legs |
