Group races are the highest standard of Thoroughbred horseraces in Australia. The Australian Pattern Committee recommends to the Australian Racing Board (ARB) which races shall be designated as Group races. The list of races approved by the ARB are accepted by the International Cataloguing Standards Committee (ICSC) for publication by The Jockey Club (US) in The Blue Book, thus providing international recognition for Australia's best races. Group races are also said to have the status of "Black Type" races which is of great importance to owners, breeders and race clubs.
There are four grades of Group races in Australia:
- Group 1 - 64 races - minimum prizemoney A$350,000
- Group 2 - 83 races - minimum prizemoney A$175,000
- Group 3 - 112 races - minimum prizemoney A$115,000
- Listed Races - 280 races - minimum prizemoney A$80,000
Australia has a total of approximately 540 to 550 Group races from a season total of almost 21,000 races. These races were collectively known as Principal Races until about 1979. For a list of Group races see List of Australian Group races.
Famous quotes containing the words group and/or races:
“The boys think they can all be athletes, and the girls think they can all be singers. That’s the way to fame and success. ...as a group blacks must give up their illusions.”
—Kristin Hunter (b. 1931)
“Arrive at New Orleans, a city of ships, steamers, flatboats, rafts, mud, fog, filth, stench, and a mixture of races and tongues. Cholera, “some.” [At] Planters’ Hotel. Mem:—Never get caught in a cheap tavern in a strange city.”
—Rutherford Birchard Hayes (1822–1893)