Fact: Aussies bet more money on horseracing and poker machines than any other country in the world per capita.
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The Golden Slipper Stakes is easily the richest horse race in the world for 2-year-olds. Since 1957, the race has been one of the most followed races in all Australia and has produced some of the greatest champions in horse racing. This year’s event kicks off on April 7, 2012 and has a prize pool of $3.5 million. Today we will take a look at the history of this event and what to expect in this year’s race.
The Golden Slipper started in 1957 and was originally a race for just 20,000 pounds. The inaugural event was won by Todman and since that time, numerous records have been set on the 1,200 meter course. Jockey R.S. Dye currently holds the record for most consecutive wins in the Golden Slipper after winning from 1989 through 1992. His four wins also ties him for the most Golden Slipper titles won by a jockey. He shares that record with Jockey R. Quinton who won the race in 1982, 1983, 1985, and in 1987.
The current Golden Slipper is actually part of Golden Slipper Day, which includes five total Group 1 races. The other races are the Arrowfield Stud Stakes, Queen of the Turf Stakes, George Ryder Stakes, and The BMW Stakes. Sepoy won last year’s event in a time of 1 minute and 10 seconds. The horse with the fastest winning time in Slipper Stakes history is Dancing Hero who took the event in 2004 in just 1 minute 8.6 seconds.
When Australian online casinos first released odds on this year’s Golden Slipper, All Too Hard was originally looking to be the favorite to win. After taking the Talidert Stakes in February and then the Pronto Pronto earlier in the money, there was a lot of hype surrounding the 2-year-old. However, now the horse has slipped to a tie for second behind the now favored Samaready. Samaready won the Blue Diamond stakes and currently sits at 4.80 to win.
There is still a chance that All Too Hard may be pulled out of the Diamond Slipper as co-trainer Wayne Hawkins is looking to improve the horse’s stud value. He believes that any Group 1 win will help improve the prestige of the horse and may try and find another race to accomplish this goal in.
For those looking to place a wager on the event, approximate odds are listed below. Right now, oddsmakers seem to favor Samaready to win with Pierro and All Too Hard to complete the place and show spots. This is provided that All Too Hard is now pulled out of the event. Raceway is not too far behind at 7.00.
This year’s Golden Slipper could be an epic race. Will All Too Hard’s record be put on the line or will Samaready become the latest 2-year-old to take the storied event. We will find out in less than two weeks.
Horse and Odds to Win (information is correct at the time this article was posted)
Samaready 4.80
Pierro 6.50
All Too Hard 6.50
Raceway 7.00
No Looking Back 9.00
Snitzerland 10.00
Hussousa 13.00
Drieftein 13.00
Faustus 17.00
Epaulette 17.00
Shelford 21.00
Calvary Rose 26.00
Later Gator 26.00
Kuchinskava 26.00
Pure Hustle 26.00
Copyright © 2012 Horse Racing Business
Never heard of this race til now. Nice to read about Aussie racing. A real change of pace for an American racing fan.
I’ll be there for the race. Nothing better than grass racing at a track with a great environment. If you in the USA had more grass and less dirt, and Aussie medication rules, some of your current problems would go away.