Champions Stakes (VRC)

The VRC Champions Stakes, registered as the LKS Mackinnon Stakes, is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race run under Weight for Age conditions over a distance of 2000 metres at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia on the last day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, the Saturday after the Melbourne Cup.[1][2] Total prize money is A$3,000,000.

Champions Stakes (VRC)
registered as the LKS Mackinnon Stakes
Group 1 race
1932 & 1934 winner – Peter Pan
LocationFlemington Racecourse,
Melbourne, Australia
Inaugurated1869 (1869) (as Melbourne Stakes)
Race typeThoroughbred
SponsorParamount+ (2021)
Race information
Distance2,000 metres
SurfaceTurf
QualificationThree year olds and older that are not maidens
WeightWeight for Age
Purse$3,000,000 (2022)

History

The race is named after a former chairman of the Victoria Racing Club, Lauchlan Kenneth Scobie ("L.K.S.") MacKinnon (1861–1935).[3] It was originally held on the first day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, Victoria Derby Day. In 2016, the VRC moved the race as the feature of the last day of the carnival, and moved the Cantala Stakes (the then feature of the last day of the carnival and at the time known as the Emirates Stakes) to the first day of the carnival. After the swap, the race would be known as simply the Emirates Stakes until 2017.[1]

Prior to 2016, many horses with a ranking high enough to avoid the ballot for the Melbourne Cup used the race as a lead-in to the 3,200 metre Cup, run on the first Tuesday in November (otherwise they race in the longer Hotham Handicap). The VRC believed that placing the race on the last day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival would attract quality horses, that raced in the W. S. Cox Plate, to run at the distance, rather than using the race to prepare for the Melbourne Cup.[1] In 2022, the race was renamed the VRC Champions Stakes in order to align with the branding of the entire race day, which is now called Champions Day instead of Stakes Day.[4]

The attendance record for the race day was set in 2011, with 85,112 in attendance.[5]

Delta,1951 winner
Tranquil Star, 1942, 1944, 1945 winner
Flight, 1946 winner
1933 winner – Rogilla; Darby Munro up

Name

In 1937 the VRC moved the Melbourne Stakes to earlier in the spring, running it in September, over a shorter distance of 1 mile (1.6 km). The race was the predecessor to the Turnbull Stakes.

  • 1869–1936 - Melbourne Stakes
  • 1937–1986 - LKS Mackinnon Stakes
  • 1987–1989 - Occidental Mackinnon Stakes
  • 1990 - LKS Mackinnon Stakes
  • 1991–2000 - Louis Vuitton Mackinnon Stakes
  • 2001–2004 - Thrifty Mackinnon Stakes
  • 2005–2006 - Motorola Mackinnon Stakes
  • 2007 - L'Oreal Paris Mackinnon Stakes
  • 2008 - Crown Mackinnon Stakes
  • 2009 - LKS Mackinnon Stakes
  • 2010–2015 - Longines Mackinnon Stakes
  • 2016–2017 - Emirates Stakes
  • 2018–2020 - Seppelt Mackinnon Stakes
  • 2021 - Paramount+ Mackinnon Stakes
  • 2022– - TAB Champions Stakes

Distance
  • 1869–1971 - 11⁄4 miles (~2000 metres)
  • 1972 onwards - 2000 metres

Grade
  • 1869–1978 - Principal Race
  • 1979 onwards - Group 1

Doubles wins

The following thoroughbreds have won the LKS MacKinnon Stakes – Melbourne Cup in the same year.

Attendance

Source:[6]

  • 1980 – 25,262
  • 1981 – 24,378
  • 1982 – 19,725
  • 1983 – 22,162
  • 1984 – 19,739
  • 1985 – 18,675
  • 1986 – 21,051
  • 1987 – 22,196
  • 1988 – 23,341
  • 1989 – 23,712
  • 1990 – 21,414
  • 1991 – 22,587
  • 1992 – 21,495
  • 1993 – 22,162
  • 1994 – 22,624
  • 1995 – 25,318
  • 1996 – 25,736
  • 1997 – 26,357
  • 1998 – 31,249
  • 1999 – 31,728
  • 2000 – 42,311
  • 2001 – 42,760
  • 2002 – 47,593
  • 2003 – 55,793
  • 2004 – 45,734
  • 2005 – 61,382
  • 2006 – 78,158
  • 2007 – 84,067
  • 2008 – 81,652
  • 2009 – 78,478
  • 2010 – 77,506
  • 2011 – 85,112
  • 2012 – 74,546
  • 2013 – 65,047
  • 2014 – 70,051
  • 2015 – 68,711
  • 2016 – 70,351
  • 2017 – 68,873
  • 2018 – 67,567
  • 2019 – 57,268
  • 2020 – 0 (no attendance due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions)
  • 2021 – 10,000 (restricted attendance due to the COVID-19 pandemic)
  • 2022 – 54,019

Winners since 2000
Year[7] Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Time
2000 Oliver Twist 6 Greg Childs Brian Mayfield-Smith Gainsborough Lodge Syndicat 2:04.48
2001 La Bella Dama 4 Scott Seamer Graeme Rogerson Mrs C & Mrs D Howell et al 2:01.57
2002 Lonhro 4 Darren Beadman John Hawkes Woodlands Stud 2:02.64
2003 Casual Pass 3 Glen Boss Peter Morgan Contract Racing Syndicate 2:05.86
2004 Grand Armee 6 Damien Oliver Gai Waterhouse A R Bell 2:00.91
2005 Lad of the Manor 6 Greg Childs Simon Stout David Thomas & Lorraine Smith 2:01.72
2006 Desert War 6 Chris Munce Gai Waterhouse Gooree Pastoral Company 2:02.38
2007 Sirmione 4 Peter Mertens Bart Cummings Xipell, Covington & Smith 2:02.32
2008 Theseo 5 Nash Rawiller Gai Waterhouse Mike Townsend, P Evans et al 2:03.84
2009 Scenic Shot 7 Shane Scriven Dan Morton D L Morton, E A Galante et al 2:03.46
2010 So You Think 4 Steven Arnold Bart Cummings Dato Tan Chin Nam 2:04.92
2011 Glass Harmonium 6 Damien Oliver Mike Moroney R & C Legh Racing, Lorne Bloodstock 2:02.72
2012 Alcopop 8 Craig Williams Jake Stephens J A Stephens, J P & Mrs S K Kelton et al 2:01.26
2013 Side Glance 7 Jamie Spencer Andrew Balding Pearl Bloodstock 2:03.59
2014 Happy Trails 7 Damien Oliver Paul Beshara Peter & Erica Dickmann 2:02.28
2015 Gailo Chop 5 Ben Melham Antoine De Watrigant OTI Management, Werrett Bloodstock et al 2:03.56
2016 Awesome Rock 5 Stephen Baster Leon & Troy Corstens Stan Saric, Mrs J C Saric et al 2:02.49
2017 Tosen Stardom 7 Damian Lane Darren Weir Australian Bloodstock, Doonaree Racing et al 2:01.22
2018 Trap For Fools 5 John Allen Jarrod McLean Distinct Racing 2:02.31
2019 Magic Wand 5 Ryan Moore Aidan O'Brien Tabor, Smith & Magnier 2:01.82
2020 Arcadia Queen 5 Luke Currie Grant & Alana Williams Peters Investments Pty Ltd 2:03.53
2021 Zaaki 7 James McDonald Annabel Neasham C E Holt et al. 2:02.94
2022 Zaaki 8 Jamie Kah Annabel Neasham C E Holt et al. 2:02.00

Earlier winners
Ajax, 1938 winner
Beau Vite, 1940 & 1941 winner
Gloaming, 1924 winner
1907 winner – Poseidon

Melbourne Stakes (1869–1936)
For Melbourne Stakes winners between 1937 and 1947, see Turnbull Stakes.
  • 1869 - Glencoe
  • 1870 - Tim Whiffler
  • 1871 - Warrior
  • 1872 - Contessa
  • 1873 - Dagworth
  • 1874 - Dagworth
  • 1875 - Kingsborough
  • 1876 - Rapid Bay
  • 1877 - Robinson Crusoe
  • 1878 - Chester
  • 1879 - First King
  • 1880 - Chester
  • 1881 - Wheatear
  • 1882 - Darebin
  • 1883 - Commotion
  • 1884 - Malua
  • 1885 - Trenton
  • 1886 - Isonomy
  • 1887 - Silver Mine
  • 1888 - The Australian Peer
  • 1889 - Abercorn
  • 1890 - Carbine
  • 1891 - Marvel
  • 1892 - Autonomy
  • 1893 - Loyalty
  • 1894 - Ruenalf
  • 1895 - Hova
  • 1896 - Disfigured
  • 1897 - Battalion
  • 1898 - Battalion
  • 1899 - Mora
  • 1900 - Lancaster
  • 1901 - Wakeful
  • 1902 - Wakeful
  • 1903 - Wakeful
  • 1904 - Gladsome
  • 1905 - Tartan
  • 1906 - Solution
  • 1907 - Poseidon
  • 1908 - Peru
  • 1909 - Alawa
  • 1910 - Son Of The Marsh
  • 1911 - Trafalgar
  • 1912 - Duke Foote
  • 1913 - Anna Carlovna
  • 1914 - St. Carwyne
  • 1915 - Traquette
  • 1916 - Lavendo
  • 1917 - Cetigne
  • 1918 - Magpie
  • 1919 - Cetigne
  • 1920 - Eurythmic
  • 1921 - Eurythmic
  • 1922 - Harvest King
  • 1923 - Rivoli
  • 1924 - Gloaming
  • 1925 - Pilliewinkie
  • 1926 - Manfred
  • 1927 - Silvius
  • 1928 - Gothic
  • 1929 - High Syce
  • 1930 - Phar Lap
  • 1931 - Phar Lap
  • 1932 - Peter Pan
  • 1933 - Rogilla
  • 1934 - Peter Pan
  • 1935 - Sylvandale
  • 1936 - Gay Blonde

* The 1932 race was a dead-heat and has joint winners.

1946 &1954 racebooks
  • Front cover of the 1946 L.K.S. MacKinnon Stakes racebook
    Front cover of the 1946 L.K.S. MacKinnon Stakes racebook
  • Inside cover showing raceday officials
    Inside cover showing raceday officials
  • Starters and results showing the winner, Flight
    Starters and results showing the winner, Flight
  • Front cover of the 1954 VRC L.K.S. Mackinnon Stakes racebook
    Front cover of the 1954 VRC L.K.S. Mackinnon Stakes racebook
  • Inside cover showing raceday officials
    Inside cover showing raceday officials
  • Starters and results 1954 L.K.S. Mackinnon Stakes
    Starters and results 1954 L.K.S. Mackinnon Stakes
  • Starters and results showing the winner, Rising Fast
    Starters and results showing the winner, Rising Fast
  • Back cover showing Enclosure Information
    Back cover showing Enclosure Information
Rising Fast, 1954 & 1955 winner
Gothic, 1928 winner

See also

References
  1. "Significant changes to the Melbourne Cup Carnival". Just Horse Racing Australia. 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  2. "Winners and Past Results for the Winners and Past Results for the MacKinnon Stakes". Pro Group Racing Australia. 2014. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  3. "MR. L.K.S. MACKINNON V.R.C. Chairman Dead". Trove Digital. The Canberra Times. 26 August 1935. p. 1 col. 5. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  4. "VRC Champions Stakes". punters.com.au. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  5. "Track records and attendances". Victorian Racing Club. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  6. "Track records and attendances". Victorian Racing Club. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  7. "History of VRC MACKINNON STAKES | Breednet". www.breednet.com.au.
  8. "Ajax Too Good For Rivals - Race Results section L.K.S. MACKINNON STAKES (held 29 October 1938)". The Barrier Miner. Trove. 29 October 1938. p. 1 col. 1–4. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  9. "Flemington Results – Mackinnon Stks (held 4 November 1972)". News (Google). The Sydney Morning Herald. 5 November 1972. p. 78 col 3–6. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  10. "1983 Result – L.K.S. Mackinnon Stks (held 29 October 1983)". breednet.com. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  11. "1984 Result – L.K.S. Mackinnon Stks (held 3 November 1984)". breednet.com. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  12. "1985 Result – L.K.S. Mackinnon Stks (held 2 November 1985)". breednet.com. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  13. "1986 Result – L.K.S. Mackinnon Stks (held 1 November 1986)". breednet.com. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  14. "1987 Result – L.K.S. Mackinnon Stks (held 31 October 1987)". breednet.com. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  15. "1988 Result – L.K.S. Mackinnon Stks (held 29 October 1988)". breednet.com. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  16. "1989 Result – L.K.S. Mackinnon Stks (held 4 November 1989)". breednet.com. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  17. "1990 Result – L.K.S. Mackinnon Stks (held 3 November 1990)". breednet.com. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  18. "1991 Result – Mackinnon Stakes (held 2 November 1991)". breednet.com. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  19. "1992 Result – L.K.S. Mackinnon Stks (held 31 October 1992)". breednet.com. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  20. "1993 Result – L.K.S. Mackinnon Stks (held 30 October 1993)". breednet.com. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  21. "1994 Result – L.K.S. Mackinnon Stks (held 29 October 1994)". breednet.com. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  22. "1995 Result – Mackinnon Stks (held 4 November 1995)". breednet.com. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  23. "1996 Result – L.K.S. Mackinnon Stks (held 2 November 1996)". breednet.com. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  24. "1997 Result – L.K.S. Mackinnon Stks (held 1 November 1997)". breednet.com. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  25. "1998 Result – L K S Mackinnon Stks (held 31 October 1998)". breednet.com. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  26. "1999 Result – L K S Mackinnon Stks (held 30 October 1999)". breednet.com. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
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