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Racing NSW and the Australian Turf Club today announced further exciting enhancements to Australia’s richest racing Carnival - the Sydney Everest Carnival.

The inaugural King Charles III Stakes carrying prizemoney of $5 million will be run on Saturday, 14 October 2023 at Royal Randwick alongside The TAB Everest. The King Charles III Stakes, named in honour of His Majesty the King, is a Group 1 race to be run over 1600m at weight-for-age conditions.

In addition, The TAB Everest prizemoney will increase to $20 million recognising the continued success of this event and the incredible halo effect that it has created benefiting the entire NSW Thoroughbred Racing Industry for the entire year.

Additional prizemoney increases and new races as set out below will see a further $12 million of prizemoney available throughout the Sydney Everest Carnival following these announcements.

The following revised Sydney Everest Carnival feature meetings are summarised:

• The TAB Everest and King Charles III race meeting will be run at Royal Randwick on Saturday, 14 October 2023 and will include the following feature races

• The Golden Eagle race meeting will be run at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, 4 November 2023 and will feature the following races

Former Sydney Turf Club and Racing NSW Chairman the Late Alan Brown AM to be honoured

• The race meeting on Saturday, 7 October 2023 will be run at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse and headlined by the Alan Brown Stakes with prizemoney of $1.5 million to be run over 1400m named after former STC and Racing NSW Chairman Alan Brown AM and by the Group 2 Hill Stakes with prizemoney of $2 million.

• The Spring Champion Stakes and The Invitation will be run at Royal Randwick on Saturday, 28 October 2023.

The Big Dance will be run for the second time on Tuesday, 7 November 2023.

A summary of changes to the Spring Carnival and schedule of race meetings from 16 September 2023 is attached to this media release.

Racing NSW Chairman, Russell Balding AO said: “The King Charles III Stakes creates a new level of excitement for the Sydney Everest Carnival with a feature open age mile race boosting an already mouth-watering Everest Day meeting.

“It is also befitting for Royal Randwick to have a feature race in spring, named in honour of His Majesty, to complement the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes in the autumn with Royal Randwick being Australia’s only Royal Racecourse.”

Minister for Gaming and Racing, David Harris said: “Racing makes a significant contribution to the NSW economy. Last year more than 46,000 people attended The Everest at Royal Randwick and spent money at restaurants, pubs and hotels across the city.

“The increased prizemoney for The Everest and the addition of the King Charles III race will create an even bigger and better event this year, with positive flow on effects for the 50,000 people directly and indirectly employed in the NSW racing industry,” Mr Harris said.

Mr Balding added: “At $20 million of prizemoney The TAB Everest is now the second richest race in the world and the richest race on Turf.

“This further increase in prizemoney is not only recognition of The TAB Everest as being the highest rated race in Australia, but also of the success this event has created in flow on benefits throughout the entire NSW Thoroughbred Industry for the whole of the year.

“Since its inaugural running in 2017, The TAB Everest has consistently rated as the highest or equal highest sprint race in the world,” Mr Balding concluded.

Summary of Changes to the Spring Carnival Program

• The King Charles III Stakes replaces the George Main Stakes, previously scheduled for 16 September 2023 and takes on that race’s Group 1 status and will be run on Everest Day, 14 October 2023.
• The $1 million Silver Eagle, 1300m will again be run on Everest Day, 14 October 2023, along with the Group 3 Angst Stakes.
• The $10 million Golden Eagle will be on Saturday, 4 November 2023.
• The Spring Champion Stakes, Group 1 and The Invitation, both of $2 million prizemoney will headline the race meeting on Saturday, 28 October 2023.
• The $750,000 Group 3 Craven Plate, 1800m will also be run on Saturday, 28 October 2023 moving away for Everest Day with the King Charles III Stakes being added to that program.
• Saturday, 7 October 2023 will be scheduled at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse, with the meeting headed by the Group 2 Hill Stakes, 1900m of $2 million and a new race the Alan Brown Stakes, 1400m Handicap of $1.5 million.
• The change of venue for the Australian Turf Club meeting on this day provides for a two week break between the Group 1 Epsom Handicap and The Everest/King Charles III Stakes race meetings at Royal Randwick on 14 October 2023.
• A new race, The 7 Stakes (WFA), 1600m replaces the previous George Main Stakes on 16 September 2023 to be run for prizemoney of $1 million.
• The race meeting on Saturday, 21 October 2023 at Royal Randwick will feature the $1 million Five Diamonds Prelude, 1500m and the Big Dance Wild Card.

Following the recent announcement that the Big Dance will be run for prizemoney of $3 million, a further $500,000 will be added to support races on the Big Dance race program on 7 November 2023 at Royal Randwick.

The Hunter race meeting will be held on Saturday, 18 November 2023 at Newcastle Racecourse and The Gong will be held at Kembla Grange Racecourse on Saturday, 25 November 2023.

Spring 2023 Scheduling and Feature Races