Horse Racing

Champions Day

16th October 2010

Champions Day at Newmarket Racecourse has quite literally everything the serious racing fan needs. Conducted over two days, it delivers a spectacular one-day package, which will leave you gasping and not ever wanting to come up for air. Including six group races and the other half of the 'Autumn Double' (the Cesarewitch Handicap to match the Cambridgeshire Handicap of Cambridgeshire Meeting fame), the Champions Day is fit to match any race meeting on offer.

Race Days

Day One

The Darley Stakes are the main race of the first day of racing at this Newmarket event. Classified as a Group 3 race is runs over one mile and one furlong. It is open to thoroughbreds over the age of three.

Day Two

• The Cesarewitch Handicap runs over two miles and two furlongs; it is open to thoroughbreds over the age of three. This Flat race was introduced in 1839 and is named in honour of Tsar Alexander II of Russia, after he made a substantial donation to the Jockey Club.
• The Callenge Stakes is classified as a Group 2 race. Thoroughbreds over the age of three compete over seven furlongs; although the race was originally conducted over six furlongs and open to horses aged two and over. Since 1985 the race is run in its present format.
• The Pride Stakes is another Group 2 Flat race. It is open only to fillies and mares, three years and older, and runs over one mile and four furlongs. This race, introduced in 1946, was staged at Ascot Racecourse until 2008. Until this move the race was known as the Princess Royal Stakes; Newmarket renamed it on honour of Pride, the winner of the 2006 Champion Stakes.
• The Rockfel Stakes is a seven furlong sprint event. Established in 1981 it rose to Group 2 status in 1998. The race is open to two-year-old thoroughbred fillies and is named in honour of the filly Rockfel, who took the win at two of the Classic races in 1938.
• The Dewhurst Stakes is one of the two Group 1 events at Champions Day. It features new talent, being open to two-year-old colts and fillies; testing the newcomers over a distance of seven furlongs. Juveniles who do well in this race often move on to win one or more Classic races, making the Dewhurst a valuable preview of seasons to come.
• The Champion Stakes are the feature race of the Champions Day at Newmarket Racecourse. Open to thoroughbreds aged three and over and running over a distance of one mile and two furlongs, it is fit to set hearts racing. Inaugurated in 1877 it is today one of the most valuable races of the Newmarket season.