Cameron Handicap

Winners and Past Results of the Newcastle Cameron Handicap.

The Newcastle Cameron Handicap, hosted by the Newcastle Jockey Club annually at the Newcastle Racecourse in Newcastle, NSW, is a Group 3 open race run over a distance of 1500 meters.

The event is scheduled mid-week in September during the spring racing carnival with $150,000 up for grabs for the winners.

Other races of the day include the Group 3 Newcastle Spring Stakes. Earlier, horses travelled a distance of 1300 meters until 2010 when it was increased by 100 meters and finally became a 1500 meter race in 2011. The 1400 meter Theo Marks Stakes held a week earlier at the Rosehill Racecourse may prove to be a form guide for the Cameron Handicap while some horses move on to the Group 3 Newcastle Gold Cup held on the following Thursday. Winners and place getters may tackle the Group 3 Bill Ritchie Handicap later during the Sydney carnival.

The feature sprint race of the year attracts an elite class of local gallopers along with other in form horses who make the trip from Sydney in a bid to make a mark in Group races.

McClintock ran third in the Newcastle Cameron Handicap in 2009 and continued his form in his next start to win the Bill Ritchie Handicap. Oscar Warrior claimed a Cameron Handicap-Bill Ritchie Handicap in 2004.

The Cameron Handicap has a rich history with the first race held in 1935.

Initially a principal race, it became a listed race in 1979 and achieved Group 3 status in 2005. Homeleigh Dick has the distinction of winning three titles in 1946, 1947, and made a comeback in 1949. Without Reproach scored back to back victories in 1969-70 while other notable horses to win the Cameron Handicap recently include Kingsgate in 2001, Collate in 2005, Raheeb in 2008, Kenny's World in 2010, and Raspberries in 2011.

Trained by Peter Snowden, Raspberries is from Sheikh Mohammed's Darley Study was steered by jockey Kevin McEvoy to win by a head from Light Brigade.

Raspberries headed for the Cameron Handicap after winning a 1500 meter BM90 at Rosehill at the end of August. Later in October, he was placed 13th in the Epsom Handicap.

Horses run in a clockwise direction on the flat Newcastle race track located 200 km north of Sydney.