The Canberra Cup, held in October in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia, is one of the most exciting days on Canberra’s horse racing calendar. Promoted as ‘Family Fun Day’, it has something to offer everyone – premier horse racing, fashion, children’s entertainment, live music and great food.

The 2006 Canberra Cup was cancelled because of reconstruction of the turf track at the host Thoroughbred Park, but organizers say it will return bigger and better in 2007.

The new course is one of the most modern racetracks in Australia, and is designed to provide the highest level of safety on a surface that will deliver highly competitive and bias free racing, Thoroughbred Park Officials said. Reconstruction of the course began in April 2006 and is the culmination of stage two of the redevelopment, which has taken place over recent years.

The race is contested over 2000 meters and carries a prize money of $125,000. Several distance changes have taken place over the years, with the cup run over 1600 meters through the year 1952. It covered 1700 meters in 1953 and 1954 and then from 1955 through 1962 the course was 1800 meters. The race was 2400 meters from 1976 through 1995 but ever since it has be contested over 2000 meters.

The 68th running of the Canberra Cup in 2005 resulted in a popular win for locally owned and trained Beat The Tide, owned and trained by Mick Miladinovc. So Assertive was the 2004 champion.

Other recent winners include; Mooring’s Melody, 2003; Benmanang, 2002; Padfoot Charlie, 2001; Regal Touch, 2000; Maltese Beauty, 1999; Iron Horse, 1998; Down in Monterey, 1997; Dancing Sun, 1996; and Jay Bee Cee, 1995.

Three horses, including Spec who won the initial running of the Canberra Cup in 1926 and repeated in 1927 have each won two cups. Other double winners were Crazy Notion, 1961 and 1962; and Beingard, 1985 and 1986.