Darley New Sponsor Of The Goodwood

The Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m) that is held at Morphettville during the Adelaide Racing Carnival will now be known as the Darley Goodwood after the leading breeding operation agreed to a three year deal with the South Australian Jockey Club.

Equine superstar Black Caviar is one of a number of leading sprinters that have contested The Goodwood in recent years. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Equine superstar Black Caviar is one of a number of leading sprinters that have contested The Goodwood in recent years. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

The Goodwood was first held in 1881 and throughout its history has been one of the two biggest races on the South Australian Racing Calendar and drawn quality sprinters from right around Australia.

The Group 1 event has had a variety of different sponsors in recent years, including Distinctive Homes and Mazda, and South Australian Jockey Club Chief Executive Brenton Wilkinson was delighted to announce the three year partnership with one of the world’s largest breeding operations.

“Darley has been a highly valued partner of the Club for the past ten years and we are very pleased to extend this relationship with their naming rights to our feature Group 1 race on the South Australian Calendar,” Wilkinson said in a statement.

Darley have been major sponsors of races right around Australia and The Goodwood is the third event at the highest level of racing that has agreed to offer naming rights to Darley, joining the Group 1 Darley Australian Cup (2000m) that is held at Flemington during the Melbourne Festival Of Racing and the Group 1 Darley Classic (1200m) that was recently won by Terravista.

Darley Australian Managing Director Henry Plumptre said that Darley was thrilled to be able to build on their partnership with the South Australian Jockey Club and paid credit to the support that South Australian breeders have shown Darley over the years.

“There are significant developments within the South Australian racing and breeding industry that make Darley’s support of the Goodwood an important strategic move for the company,” Plumptre said.

“We have always had tremendous support from the South Australian breeders and with the arrival of a new owner at Lindsay Park and the emergence of other significant racing enthusiasts in the past five years, we are delighted to continue our association with the South Australian Jockey Club and a signature race such as the G1 Goodwood.”

The 2014 edition of The Goodwood was taken out by inconsistent galloper Smokin’ Joey, who will run in the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) on Saturday, while the race was taken out by champion sprinter Takeover Target in 2009 and equine superstar Black Caviar in 2012.

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.