All you need to know about the Goodwood
Everything You Need To Know About The Goodwood
Horses neck to neck on a racecourse. Image credit – unsplash
It’s evident to anyone who uses the internet, scrolls through social media, or listens to sports news that the Goodwood is just around the corner. People may be talking about the current odds, making bets on the Goodwood, and seeing the jocks in action this year.
But what is it about this event with racing experts and fans so excited? If you want to spend some quality time outside and attend this year’s anticipated event, here’s a little session to get you ready.
Here, you will learn all you need to know about the Goodwood to gear up for South Australia’s most anticipated horse races.
What Is The Goodwood?
The Goodwood is a Group 1 event for open class horses that takes place in Adelaide, South Australia, at the Morphettville racecourse. It is held during the SAJC Autumn Carnival, where the horses run over a length of 1200m under set weights and penalties standards.
After formerly being a handicap race throughout its 121-year history, the competition was renamed The Goodwood from Goodwood Handicap in 2007. With a prize pool of $1,000,000, it is Adelaide’s wealthiest sprint competition of the Autumn season.
The prize money was reduced to $400000 in 2020 due to the financial distress caused by covid19.
How Did The Goodwood Start?
The Goodwood was inaugurated in 1881 and was won by a horse named D.O.D. The Goodwood Festival of Speed began as a primary event in 1881 and remained until 1980 when it was elevated to Group 1 status. Between 1881 and 1885, the length of the race was one mile.
Interestingly, the race didn’t take place from 1886 to 1888, and it was also not held in 1942 and 1943 due to reasons unknown.
In South Australia, the Goodwood is one of the most coveted sprint races. The event always attracts a strong group of elite gallopers as the premier sprint race of the Adelaide Autumn Racing Carnival.
Past Winners of the Goodwood
The Goodwood has seen many great gallopers in the past century, including Takeover Target (2009), Bomber Bill (2003), Euclase (1992), Boardwalk Angel (1989), Romantic Dream (1977), Aurie’s Star (1940), Black Caviar (2012), Vega Magic (2017), Black Heart Bart (2016), Vega Magic (2017), Trekking (2020), and Santa Ana Lane (2018).
The Goodwood has also seen several girl champions, with 4 winning from 2010-2013.
Musket Belle (1911-1912) and Mostyn (1894-1895) are the only horses to win the race twice. Aurie’s Star, who won the race in 1940, had won the V.R.C. Newmarket Handicap once and the Oakleigh Plate twice.
Recent champions like Takeover Target and Black Caviar moved on to win several international races.
Goodwood record holders
At the beginning of the century, Walter Hickenbotham was the most successful trainer, with five victories under his belt (1901, 1902, 1906, 1909, 1910).
John Letts is the only South Australian jockey to win five races in the event.
In 1998, a horse named Spectrum set a record finish time of 1.08.33.
Goodwood Horse Nominations
The horses who run the race must be large enough to hold their own in tight races and have the stamina to stay strong throughout the entire course. They should have the acceleration to sprint to the finish line to win.
The Goodwood event attracts a strong field of sprinters, many of whom have competed in autumn sprint races in Sydney or Melbourne. Alternatively, fillies and mares could have a two-week lead-up to The Goodwood in the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes at the same track and distance (1200m). Winter racing in Brisbane could also be on the cards for gallopers in the Goodwood field.
The nominations for the Goodwood Festival of Speed are accepted in early May, roughly weeks before the race.
The 2021 star local David Jolly-trained Behemoth finished third in this year’s $5 million The All-Star Mile in Melbourne. Last year’s runner-up, Gytrash, claimed the $1 million Winners Stakes in Sydney last October was among the 24 sprinters nominated for 2021 The Goodwood.
The horse is always the star in racing, and the Goodwood will feature some of South Australia’s top gallopers.
How Can I Watch The Goodwood?
The Goodwood has avid fans who come to the racecourse every season to watch the spectacle. Several Australians attend the SAJC Autumn Carnival to watch the amazing racehorses and enjoy betting on them.
However, if you don’t wish to step out, you can live-stream the match and watch it online in the comfort of your home. You can even have your family or friends over to enjoy the race together. You need to sign up with a compatible and reputable bookmaker to stream the race for free.
Betting On The Goodwood – Tips And Tricks
While betting on the Goodwood doesn’t sound simple, especially if you are a beginner. You need to know the best tricks to place successful bets that help you boost your chances of winning. Although professional bettors may be more likely to place successful bets, it doesn’t mean beginners cannot ever win.
Regardless of being experienced or just starting with placing bets, having some hacks up your sleeves can do wonders. And if you’re planning to experiment with betting on this year’s Goodwood, here are two tips to assist you with your mission!
Watch out for favourites.
There’s a reason you hear betting terminology like favourites. It signifies the horses have remarkable and consistent performance records, which can boost your chances of winning bets. As a result, you must research and look for odds and bets for each match. Even if the amount you win isn’t large, it’s better than winning nothing, which is an important tip for beginners.
Some of the Goodwood favourites are as follows:
- Gytrash
- Spright
- Vega Magic
- Black Caviar
- Black Heart Bart
- Instant Celebrity
- Savatoxl
Do your research
Before you plan on placing bets on horses, you must do your research regarding the horses, trainers, tracks, and other details. Statistics are essential for determining which horse is most likely to win and help you place safe bets.
Wrap Up
Now that you have a lot of information regarding Goodwood and how betting works, you can go ahead and try to make some money.
However, always remember to gamble responsibly as you may not always win. Keep practising and improving your game; the Goodwood is a great place to start.
Gamble responsibly. Contact the Gambling Helpline for free and confidential support, information, and counselling on 1800 858 858 or visit www.gamblinghelponline.org.au.