Emirates Stakes Betting

The Emirates Stakes (also known as the VRC stakes) is the newest addition to the Spring Racing Carnival and the final major race of the Spring festival. Held on the Saturday following the Melbourne Cup, the Emirates Stakes offers a more relaxed atmosphere than many of the other Spring Racing Carnival days, and is targeted mostly by families and seasoned punters.

The Emirates Stakes was first run in 1881. As the final Group One race of the Spring Racing Carnival, the Emirates Stakes attracts smaller, but still substantial crowds, often in excess of 60,000 spectators.

Open to 4 year old and above thoroughbred racehorses, the 2008 Emirates Stakes will be run over the distance of 1600 meters (approximately a mile) at Flemington racecourse. As the shortest Group One race of the Spring Racing Carnival, the Emirates Stakes rarely sees horses from the other major races compete. The Emirates Stakes offers a substantial prize fund of A$1 million.

Emirates Stakes Winners

In the history of the Emirates Stakes only four horses have achieved more than one race victory, with none taking more than two Emirates Stakes winners titles. The first horse to win consecutive Emirates Stakes was Iolaire in 1907 and 1908. More recently this feat was accomplished by Seascay who won the 1994 and 1995 Emirates Stakes.

Nikita Berriman deserves a special mention as a Emirates Stakes winning jockey. In 2007 she rode Tears I Cry to victory at the Emirates Stakes to become the first female jockey in history to win a Group One Spring Racing Carnival race, and only the third woman in the history of Australian thoroughbred racing to win a Group One race.

2008 Emirates Stakes Betting

The 2008 Emirates Stakes betting opportunities are some of the most intriguing of the Spring Racing Carnival. As the last day of racing of the Spring festival, it is usually only the most avid horseracing fans and determined punters who are left standing, and this can make pool betting very competitive.

When doing your 2008 Emirates Stakes betting, keep in mind that distance is crucial in this race and that horses need to have both stamina and pace to win the race, with the race usually something of a sprint. Results tend to be very close in this race, which can make Emirates Stakes a heart-stopping experience.