The Hunter Race Information
The Hunter is a 1300m quality handicap race run by the Newcastle Jockey Club in November. It is held at Newcastle as part of The Everest Carnival.
- Race Type: Group 2
- Distance: 1300 metres
- Conditions: Quality handicap, 3YO & upwards
- Track: Newcastle Racecourse, Newcastle, New South Wales
- Prizemoney: $1,000,000
- Date: Saturday 16 November 2024
The Hunter Race History
The Hunter was first run in 2019 and was one of the new feature races announced by Racing NSW that debuted in 2019 to promote the wider Sydney Spring Racing Carnival as Australia’s richest racing festival with close to $50 million in prize money on offer over six weeks. Newcastle racecourse hosts a standalone meeting on the Saturday and can attract some of the best sprinters with no competition from a Sydney metropolitan meeting. The meeting also has the Group 3 Spring Stakes (1600m), previously held in September on Newcastle Cup Day.
The race is a possible progression for horses that lined-up in The Everest in mid-October. This race at Newcastle’s Broadmeadow track along with the $1 million The Gong (1600m) a week later at Kembla Grange are the richest New South Wales races held outside of Sydney.
In October 2024 the race was upgraded to Group 2 status meaning that in 2024 Newcastle will stage its first Group 2 race in over two decades as the Newcastle Gold Cup was a Group 2 race from 1985 to 2001 before being downgraded to its current Group 3 status. The Beauford run on the same day as The Hunter was also upgraded to Listed status.
Our Runner by Runner Previews
2024 The Hunter Preview and results.
2023 The Hunter Preview and results.
2022 The Hunter Preview and results.
Useful Facts
Last mare to win: Sweet Deal (2020)
Last 3YO to win: none yet
Multiple winners: none et
Fastest time (1300m): Savatiano (2019) 1:15:76
Interesting trivia:
Past winners of The Hunter
The race was run for the first time in 2019 and was won by Savatiano
Year | Winner | Second | Third |
2024 | Briasa | Felix Majestic | Coal Crusher |
2023 | Coal Crusher | King Of Sparta | Rocketing By |
2022 | Vilana | In The Congo | Gravina |
2021 | Lost And Running | Wandabaa | Top Ranked |
2020 | Sweet Deal | Special Award | Asiago |
2019 | Savatiano | Tactical Advantage | Bon Amis |