The Geelong Cup is a Geelong Racing Club Group 3Thoroughbred horse race, held under handicap conditions over a distance of 2400 metres at the Geelong Racecourse, Geelong, Victoria, Australia on a Wednesday in late October.[1] The prize money for the race is A$500,000,[2] and the race is considered one of the most reliable guides to the result of the Melbourne Cup.[3]
History
The race is run thirteen days before the Melbourne Cup (which is always on the first Tuesday in November).
The race has been run on this day since 1947.[4] The day of the race is a public holiday in the city of Geelong.[5] Before 1907 the race was run at the Marshalltown Racecourse.[6] Before 1947 the race was run at various times during the year between January and July.
Distance
1872–1885 – 2 miles (~3200 metres)
1886–1892 – 13⁄4 miles (~2800 metres)
1893–1894, 1899, 1970–1971 – 11⁄2 miles (~2400 metres)
1900, 1965–1969 – about 11⁄2 miles (~2400 metres)
1895, 1901–1906, 1910–1911, 1919, 1951–1960 – 13⁄8 miles (~2200 metres)