The 2017 Bill Ritchie Handicap is a Group 3 race held annually in September during the Sydney spring racing carnival. It is hosted at Randwick Racecourse and caters for horses aged three years and over. The Bill Ritchie Handicap stretches for 1400m around the course and $125,000 in prize money is on offer.
The Bill Ritchie Handicap sits on the same card as the feature event Group 1 George Main Stakes (1600m). Other black-type races held on the day include three Group 2 events, the Hill Stakes (2000m), The Shorts (1100m), and the Tea Rose Stakes (1400m). The listed Heritage Stakes (1100) is also run on the day.
It also carries a ballot exemption for the winner to get into the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m). As a result, a lot of punters tend to watch this race, not only for the winner’s form, but also the top placing horses.
With that in mind the majority of horses contesting the 1400m of the Bill Ritchie Handicap will be looking to step up to the mile of the Epsom Handicap later on.
That said there isn’t a good record for the winner of this race in the Group 1 on the final day of the carnival.
The best recent result belongs to Captain Sonador who won the Epsom Handicap after placing third in the Ritchie Handicap.
If you’re looking for a form line leading into the Bill Ritchie Handicap try races such as the Group 3 Cameron Handicap (1500m) at Newcastle, the Group 2 Theo Marks Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill or the Group 3 Tramway Handicap (1400m) at Randwick.
Zabarra won back to back Bill Ritchie Handicaps in 2002 and 2003 while since then it’s been won by McClintok in 2009, Drumbeats in 2010 and Thankgodyou’rehere in 2011.
2017 Bill Ritchie Handicap Field
The Bill Ritchie Handicap field will be released on Wednesday September 14th. The 2017 Bill Ritchie Handicap field will be provided below.
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2x156495x8 | MCCREERY (GB) | Chris Waller | Hugh Bowman | 8 | 58.5kg | 106 |
| 2 | 33x1333x0x | HAVANA COOLER (IRE) | James Cummings | Glyn Schofield | 1 | 57kg | 103 |
| 3 | 23x6905x22 | TOM MELBOURNE (IRE) | Chris Waller | Blake Shinn | 4 | 57kg | 103 |
| 4 | 2141×51153 | BURNING PASSION | Mark Newnham | Tim Clark | 9 | 56kg | 101 |
| 5 | 433x1106x7 | SPECTROSCOPE (USA) | James Cummings | Corey Brown | 3 | 55.5kg | 100 |
| 6 | x460x4834x | PAJARO (NZ) | Peter & Paul Snowden | Andrew Adkins (a) | 5 | 54.5kg | 98 |
| 7 | 121x5338x1 | COMIN’ THROUGH | Chris Waller | Michael Walker | 7 | 53kg | 95 |
| 8 | 111x62745x | NEW TIPPERARY | Joseph Pride | Brenton Avdulla | 6 | 53kg | 94 |
| 9 | 2x53526x42 | NO DOUBT | Anthony & Edward Cummings | Jeff Penza | 2 | 53kg | 87 |
2017 Bill Ritchie Handicap Nominations
The 2017 Bill Ritchie Handicap nominations will be released on Monday, September 12th. The 2017 Bill Ritchie Handicap nominations will be published below.
Bill Ritchie Handicap Results
Bill Ritchie Handicap results and winning times since 2000 are listed below.
| Year | Results | Winning Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 1 Comin’ Through | 2 Tom Melbourne | 3 Burning Passion | 1:21.6 |
| 2016 | 1 Sons Of John | 2 Torgersen | 3 Federal | 1:22.7 |
| 2015 | 1 Sadler’s Lake | 2 Rudy | 3 Heart Testa | 1:24.7 |
| 2014 | 1 Manawanui | 2 Rock Sturdy | 3 Tougher Than Ever | 1:21.8 |
| 2013 | 1 Boban | 2 Beltone | 3 Choice Bro | 1:21.8 |
| 2012 | 1 Steps In Time | 2 Said Com | 3 Wild And Proud | 1:23.2 |
| 2011 | 1 Thankgodyou’rehere | 2 Startsmeup | 3 Miss Keepsake | 1:22.2 |
| 2010 | 1 Drumbeats | 2 Kenny’s World | 3 Captain Sonador | 1:22.8 |
| 2009 | 1 McClintock | 2 Walking Or Dancing | 3 Faulconbridge | 1:23.5 |
| 2008 | 1 Judged | 2 Rockwood | 3 Kiloton | 1:23.1 |
| 2007 | 1 Race Not Run | 2 | 3 | |
| 2006 | 1 Coalesce | 2 New Edge | 3 Flaming | 1:21.6 |
| 2005 | 1 Flaming | 2 Devil | 3 Messiaen | 1:21.3 |
| 2004 | 1 Osca Warrior | 2 Utzon | 3 In a Bound | 1:21.7 |
| 2003 | 1 Zabarra | 2 Britt’s Best | 3 Forum Floozie | 1:22.6 |
| 2002 | 1 Zabarra | 2 This Manshood | 3 Swiss Echo | 1:23.8 |
| 2001 | 1 Fouardee | 2 Defier | 3 Adamantly | 1:21.7 |
| 2000 | 1 Landsighting | 2 Tie The Knot | 3 Valuate | 1:21.7 |
