A growing feature on the Australian racing calendar, Special Condition races are becoming hugely popular with incredible prize money on offer for these Group-exempt events.
The first and most famous of these Special Condition races was The Everest, introduced by Racing NSW in 2017. This unique buy-in horse racing event is the richest turf race in the world currently worth $20 million in prize money.
In 2024 however The Everest gained Group 1 status as did the other most popular former Special Condition race held in Australia, The All-Star Mile (1600m), run during the autumn at various tracks in Melbourne.
More and more Special Condition races that each have their own specific set of ballot conditions and restrictions are being added the both the spring and autumn racing carnivals each season.
In 2022 Racing NSW added two more lucrative Special Conditions feature races to the growing Sydney Spring Racing Carnival line-up.
The Big Dance – currently worth $3 million – now runs Melbourne Cup Day at Randwick each year and eligibility is via a run in selected Country Cup races throughout the year.
The following Saturday Sydney hosts the $2 million The Five Diamonds (1800m) for five-year-old horses.
In 2024 however both The Big Dance and The Five Diamonds gained Listed status.
