Ascot’s Perth Cup
The Perth Cup is a 2400 metre horse race that is run at the Ascot Racecourse in Perth, Australia. It is always run in January, and actually usually takes place on New Year’s Day. It falls under the jurisdiction of Perth Racing, previously called the Western Australia Turf Club, and is a Group 2 Thoroughbred race under handicap conditions. This means the competing horses are specifically bred for racing, and being in Group 2 indicates they are an especially elite group.
Handicap conditions mean that the steeds carry different weights that are allocated by an official handicapper. A horse that is more likely to win will be given a heavier weight to carry than their slower competitors. The aim in handicapping is to level the competition, so that horses can finish together in an exciting dead heat, which is what happens here. People come from all over Ascot and further afield to watch the Perth Cup, and the purse of 500,000 Australian Dollars attracts the best horses and riders as well.
The Town
Perth is the capital city of Western Australia, and Ascot is one of its suburbs. It covers a small area along the Swan River’s southern bank and is near the city’s local government area and central business district. It’s also near the city of Belmont and was a part of that metropolis until its new boundaries were approved in 1991. It was actually named after the racetrack, and the course is definitely its main claim to fame.
The Racecourse
The Ascot Racecourse is Perth’s major track, and is conveniently directly opposite the Perth Racing headquarters. Widely regarded as the Grand Old Lady of Australian racecourses, it is an institution in its own right. The track first run over 150 years ago in 1848, but with modern well-drained turf it blends cutting-edge racing with its proud heritage. With a 300-metre inclining straight, many experts regard it as the toughest course in Australia.
The Races
Although there are other events at the racecourse, the Perth Cup is definitely the biggest and the most prestigious, and is the headline feature of the Summer Racing Carnival in the city. It’s also a good preparation for riders and horses taking part in the Group 1 Western Australia Turf Club Derby which is run in the same venue in early April. Staging it on New Year’s Day also means that many more fans can attend than if it occurred later in the year, and more than 35,000 people bring groups of families and friends together for the action or online at betting sites. The races are accompanied by lots of family-friendly entertainment all through the day as well.
Betting on the Cup allows fans to analyse and appreciate it even more, and there is quite a lot of research that can be done before putting money down. The CB Cox Stakes is a 2100 metre race that is held a fortnight before, and as another Group 2 event it is considered a great indicator of Perth results. It’s actually possible to bet on both of these races in the CB Cox Stakes – Perth Cup Double. This can add more excitement to general betting, and there are plenty of other simple and exotic punts to investigate as well.
Whether spectators simply want to relax and enjoy themselves, or choose from the different wagers that cater to every level of betting skill, the Perth Cup can deliver a good day out.