Chairman's Handicap

Winners and Past Results.

The Chairmans Handicap hosted by the Brisbane Racing Club is an open handicap race for horses three year old and upwards during the winter racing carnival. FREE $200 Bet

The quality handicap is held at the Doomben Racetrack in Brisbane in May on the same day of the first Group 1 event of the season, the $400,000 Group 1 BTC Cup and the Group 3 Rough Habit Plate. Quality gallopers compete over a distance of 2020 meters in the BTC Chairmans Handicap for prize money worth $115,000. The race attracts a classy field of middle distance runners which are usually local stayers.

Among the quality horses to win the Chairmans Handicap include Society Beau in 2002, So Assertive in 2004, Mandela in 2007, Ballack in 2009, and Crossthestart in 2010.

The first Chairmans Handicap held in 1978 was a principal race won by Proficient. It became a listed race in 1980 and was elevated to Group 3 in 1995 with Arobrea recorded as the first winner as a Group 3 event.

Among the other famous gallopers to lift the Handicap include Crawford in 1985, Majestic Boy in 1991, Juggler in 1996, and Kazakh Belle in 2000.

The Group 2 Hollindale Stakes, held at the Gold Coast Racecourse earlier in the carnival is one of the important events leading up to the Chairmans Handicap. Top stayers in the Handicap set their eyes on the Group 3 Premier's Cup at Doomben later in the carnival and the prestigious Brisbane Cup. The Tails Quality Handicap held at Eagle Farm Racecourse is also serves as a form guide for the Chairmans Handicap. Humma, winner of the 2011 edition, ran fifth in the Tails Quality before beating Viking Hero in a nail biting finish in the Chairmans Handicap. Earlier, he also won a Listed race, the Toowoomba Cup in March.

The Chairmans Handicap attracts a varied quality of talent every year. Local horses seem to dominate but a number of interstate runners are proving their mettle over the years. The Doomben track provides runners in the event with a straight run before the first turn, where horses along the inside barriers usually have a slight advantage.

Crossthestart, the 2010 winner of the Chairmans Handicap went on to win the Brisbane Cup with jockey Chris Munce in the saddle once again. Unfortunately, a bowed tendon kept him out of the 2010 Melbourne spring carnival and a shot at the Caulfield Cup.

2011 BRC Chairman's Handicap

Humma settled nicely with jockey Larry Cassidy guiding the veteran galloper into a prime position at the top of the straight and urging him to greater efforts in the run home. The gelding responded superbly and showed plenty of fighting spirit to just hold Viking Hero and Count Encosta.

2011 BRC Chairman's Handicap result

1. Humma
2. Viking Hero
3. Count Encosta

Then came:

4. Femina Fashion
5. Tabulate
6. Crossthestart
7. Shuffle The Cash
8. Rainbow Styling
9. Royal Reign
10. Firebolt
11. Raeburn
12. Little Stranger
13. Warrior Within
14. Streets Away
15. Saint Encosta