Bill Ritchie Handicap

Winners and Past Results.

The 1400 meter Bill Ritchie Handicap held at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney during the spring racing carnival is a Group 3 open handicap race. FREE $250 Bet

Hosted by the Australian Turf Club, the event offers prize money worth $125,000 and attracts a fine crop of three year old and upwards horses every September.

The winner of the race is exempt from a ballot and penalty at the Group 1 Epsom Handicap, which is held on the final day of the carnival over a distance of 1600 meters, which is why it attracts a classy field of gallopers.

The Bill Ritchie Handicap is usually won by handy horses that enter the race after an outing in the Group 3 Newcastle Cameron Handicap at Newcastle and Theo Marks Stakes at Rosehill Racecourse.

After finishing third in the 2010 Bill Ritchie Handicap, Captain Sonador won the Epsom Handicap in an impressive fashion in his very next start. Other lead up races to the event include the 1400 meter Group 3 Tramway Quality Handicap at Warwick Farm Racecourse. The winner of the 2011 Bill Ritchie Handicap, Thankgodyou'rehere, came via this route after a third place in the Tramway Quality Handicap.

The Bill Ritchie Handicap is held on the same day as the Group 1 George Main Stakes. The race was named after New South Wales racehorse owner and breeder, Bill Ritchie.

The event was formerly known as the AJC Squatters' Handicap since its inception in 1989 with Royal Reel becoming the first to win the trophy. It remained a listed race until 1998 when it was granted a Group 3 status.

The event was renamed the AJC Bill Ritchie Handicap in 1994.

Zabarra, the Jack Denham-trained gelding won two consecutive races in 2002-03. Zabarra had an incredible run preceding the Bill Ritchie Handicap with three wins and three places from only eight outings prior to the event. Other notable winners include Prince of Praise in 1992, Bezeal Bay in 1998, Flaming in 2005, and McClintock and Drumbeats in 2009 and 2010 respectively.

2011 Bill Ritchie Handicap

Thankgodyou'rehere started from an inside barrier and was beautifully positioned throughout. With all this in his favour, it was no surprise to see him lengthen stride and go away from his challengers on the run home, eventually winning by two lengths over Startsmeup while outsider Miss Keepsake added value to the trifecta by finishing third.

2011 Bill Ritchie Handicap result

1. Thankgodyou'rehere
2. Startsmeup
3. Miss Keepsake

Then came:

4. Kenny's World
5. Tom's Rocket
6. Bay Window
7. Red Lord
8. Charing Cross