The Futurity Stakes is a Group 1 thoroughbred race held each year at Caulfield Racecourse. This weight for age event takes place in late February or early March, as one of three Group 1 events on Blue Diamond Stakes Day. Run over a distance of 1400 metres and worth $500,000 in prizemoney, the Futurity Stakes has a rich and lengthy history in Australian horse racing.
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The Futurity Stakes began its long life way back in 1897, when it was run over a distance of 7 furlongs or 1400 metres. The official distance was changed to 1400 metres in 1973, and lengthened to 1800 metres in 1979. From 2006 to 2010, the Futurity Stakes joined the Asian Mile Challenge and became a 1600 metre event, before reverting back to its original distance of 1400 metres in 2011.
With such a long history, this event has been won by many of Australia’s best horses, including The Hawk in 1923, Phar Lap in 1930, Ajax between 1938 and 1940, Manikato between 1979 and 1981 and 1983, Rubiton in 1987, and Schillaci in 1993 and 1995. The long list of champions who have won the Futurity Stakes have helped cement this event in Australian racing history.
In more recent times, winners of the Futurity Stakes include All Too Hard in 2013, Typhoon Tracy in 2010, More Joyous in 2011, Fields Of Omagh in 2006, Testa Rossa in 2000, and Encounter in 1998. Sprinters in this event may come from the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes at Caulfield in February, with staying types possibly heading to the Group 1 Australian Cup at Flemington on Super Saturday of Racing in March.
The Futurity Stakes is held alongside the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes and Group 1 Oakleigh Plate, with these three events making up the first big day of racing each year at Caulfield Racecourse. While it may not host the first Group 1 races of the season, Blue Diamond Stakes Day is highly anticipated and much loved by horse racing fans from around the country.
