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.

2024 The Hunter Preview and results.

2023 The Hunter Preview and results.

2022 The Hunter Preview and results.

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:

The race was run for the first time in 2019 and was won by Savatiano