Rosehill Gardens Racecourse hosts the biggest two-year-old race in Australia with the running of the Golden Slipper Stakes over 1200m.
One of the most prestigious races on the calendar each year is the Golden Slipper which is worth $3.5 million. It is held in March and is a stallion-making race for juvenile gallopers.
“Gai told us months ago and Pierro won it,” exclaimed race caller Mark Shean at the end of the 2012 Golden Slipper. Trainer Gai Waterhouse had spruiked her outstanding colt Pierro and the bay horse didn’t let punters down as he would go on to win 11 of 14 before retiring to stud. There have been many terrific performances in the Golden Slipper but this one stands out to most racing fans.
Belle Du Jour’s victory in 2000 is another memorable moment and on-course patrons will remember it fondly after owner John Singleton shouted the bar for an hour. After bungling the start, the filly settled last and jockey Lenny Beasley was lucky to stay in the saddle. It would be a freakish win by Belle Du Jour to capture the iconic race.
Special mention to Vancouver and Luskin Star who also captivated fans with their Golden Slipper victories. Luskin Star blew away his opposition with a seven-length romp in 1977.
Rosehill Gardens is located 22km from the Sydney CBD, which equates to about a 30-minute drive by car in order to attend the picturesque racecourse. The Rosehill Gardens tracks dimensions are:
* Circumference: 2048m
* Home Straight: 408m
* Direction: Clockwise
Plenty of Group 1 racing is conducted at Rosehill Gardens during both the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival and Sydney Spring Racing Carnival.
Starting in the autumn, Group 1 racing begins in March with the Coolmore Classic (1500m) for fillies and mares; this provides the perfect appetiser for what is to come one week later.
The Ranvet Stakes (2000m), George Ryder Stakes (1500m), Rosehill Guineas (2000m) and The Galaxy (1100m) are all held on Golden Slipper Day.
The BMW (2400m) and Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) are held a week after the Golden Slipper which concludes Group 1 racing at Rosehill Gardens for the autumn.
Three-year-olds take centre stage at Rosehill Gardens in the spring with the running of the $1 million Golden Rose Stakes which is held over 1400m. Much like the Golden Slipper, the Golden Rose is fast becoming a stallion-making race with winners often standing at stud.
