The Golden Eagle is a new race that will be run for the first time in 2019. Following on from Racing NSW’s introduction of The Everest in 2017, they announced in late 2018 that a new race called The Golden Eagle would be run at Rosehill Gardens in November.
It will be held exclusively for four-year-old gallopers over 1500m under Set Weights conditions. The inaugural running of The Golden Eagle will see prizemoney of $7.5 million on offer.
One of the main reasons behind the introduction of The Golden Eagle is to try and retain classy three-year-olds to race on into their four-year-old season. Currently, most Group 1-winning three-year-old colts are retired to stud without racing at the age of four.
The race, much like The Everest, is designed to target a younger demographic to help grow participation in horse racing.
The Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival currently doesn’t boast a four-year-old race which is another reason that Racing NSW and the Australian Turf Club (ATC) have introduced The Golden Eagle. It will be the third leg of the new 'Golden Slam’ at Rosehill Gardens with a $5 million bonus on offer to any horse that wins the Golden Slipper as a two-year-old, the Golden Rose as a three-year-old and then The Golden Eagle at four.
Just like The Everest, The Golden Eagle will also not be considered a Group 1 race. The 2019 The Golden Eagle will be held on Derby Day, which is the first of four days of the Melbourne Cup Carnival held at Flemington Racecourse. The date of The Golden Eagle has caused a negative reaction from the Victoria Racing Club (VRC).
An innovative concept behind The Golden Eagle is that 10% of the $7.5 million prizemoney will be donated to charity. With winning connections earning $4.1 million for winning the race, $410,000 will be donated to the charity of the owners’ choice. The same will apply to all other connections with the race paying down to 16th. The Equine Welfare Fund and Jockeys Welfare Fund will both receive $75,000 each.
