Railway Stakes

Race Preview

The Railway Stakes is a Group 1 event held annually at Ascot racecourse in Perth, the same day as the Group 2 WA Guineas. It is an open handicap race for 3-year-olds and up over a distance of 1600 metres. It is Perth’s biggest race carrying $1 million in prize money and has recently become a huge event on the Perth social calendar also.

It was first run in 1887 and was upgraded to Group 1 status in 1980. The race has been dominated by fillies and mares for the best part of half a century. The hot Perth weather ensures for a very good track each year, with the track conditions being either Good or Fast in the past 15 years. This will suit local horses that are well adapted to the conditions, rather than interstate invaders.

Despite the Railway Stakes being held several weeks after the Melbourne Spring Carnival has finished, several horses will still make the trip interstate due to the large prize money involved. The best lead up race is the RJ Peters Stakes held a week earlier, with many horses who have won the RJ Peters backing up again in the Railway Stakes, so be sure to pay close attention to horses with form in this race.

Previous Railway Stakes Winners