Wikipedia / Lexus Stakes
Wikipedia / Lexus Stakes
The Hotham Handicap, raced as the Lexus Archer Stakes, is a Victoria Racing Club Group 3 Thoroughbred horse race for horses three years old and older, held under quality handicap conditions, over a distance of 2500 metres, held annually at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia on Makybe Diva Stakes Day. Total prize money for the race is A$300,000.
History
Historically the race has been a traditional lead-up for the Melbourne Cup three days later, with the winner gaining exemption from any ballot for entry to the Cup.
As a "Quality Race", the weights are assigned as in a handicap, but with a maximum weight of 60kg and a minimum weight of 52kg.
The race is also famous due to a triple dead-heat in 1956 involving Fighting Force, Ark Royal and Pandie Sun.
From 2024, the VRC moved the race from Victoria Derby day to Makybe Diva Stakes day in September.
Name
18691978 - Hotham Handicap
19791993 - The Dalgety
19941995 - Crown Quality
1996 - Ten News Stakes
1997 - Lean Cuisine Quality
19982008 - Saab Quality
20092018 - Lexus Stakes
20192021 - Lexus Hotham Stakes
2022present - Lexus Archer Stakes
Distance
18691971 - 1 miles (~2400 metres)
1972 onwards - 2500 metres
Grade
18691978 - Principal Race
19791980 - Group 3
19812003 - Group 2
2004 onwards - Group 3
Doubles wins
The following thoroughbreds have won the Hotham Handicap Melbourne Cup in the same year.
Shocking (2009), Brew (2000), Think Big (1974), Baystone (1958), Foxzami (1949), Sirius (1944), Dark Felt (1943), White Nose (1931), King Ingoda (1922) and Nimblefoot (1870).
1953 and 1954 racebooks
Winners
2024 - Point King
2023 - Kalapour
2022 - Surefire
2021 - Great House
2020 - Ashrun
2019 - Downdraft
2018 - Prince Of Arran
2017 - Cismontane
2016 - Oceanographer
2015 - Excess Knowledge
2014 - Signoff
2013 - Ruscello
2012 - Kelinni
2011 - Niwot
2010 - Maluckyday
2009 - Shocking
2008 - Moatize
2007 - Sculptor
2006 - Maybe Better
2005 - Strasbourg
2004 - Don Raphael
2003 - Big Pat
2002 - Requiem
2001 - Maythehorsebewithu
2000 - Brew
1999 - The Warrior
1998 - Star Binder
1997 - Backslapper
1996 - Few Are Chosen
1995 - Coachwood
1994 - Pindi
1993 - Tennessee Jack
1992 - Big Barron
1991 - Rasheek
1990 - Mount Olympus
1989 - Coshking
1988 - Copatonic
1987 - Scarvila
1986 - Sea Legend
1985 - Silver Award
1984 - Chagemar
1983 - Chagemar
1982 - Allez Bijou
1981 - Mr. Cromwell
1980 - Bohemian Grove
1979 - Karu
1978 - Jury
1977 - Major Till
1976 - Reckless
1975 - Suleiman
1974 - Think Big
1973 - Daneson
1972 - Scotch And Dry
1971 - Not Again
1970 - Sudani
1969 - Tails
1968 - Raad
1967 - Midlander
1966 - Aveniam
1965 - Sail Away
1964 - Celero
1963 - River Seine
1962 - Le Storm
1961 - Oreka
1960 - Nilarco
1959 - Grand Garry
1958 - Baystone
1957 - Baron Boissier
1956 - † Fighting Force / Ark Royal / Pandie Sun
1955 - Better Boy
1954 - Plato
1953 - My Hero
1952 - Morse Code
1951 - Glenvue
1950 - Thracian Lad
1949 - Foxzami
1948 - Howe
1947 - Dark Marne
1946 - Chaytor
1945 - Arduli
1944 - Sirius
1943 - Dark Felt
1942 - Dark Felt
1941 - Son Of Aurous
1940 - Dashing Cavalier
1939 - Catalogue
1938 - Spear Chief
1937 - Frill Prince
1936 - Balkan Prince
1935 - Sarcherie
1934 - Panto
1933 - Pretzel
1932 - Roc
1931 - White Nose
1930 - Cimbrian
1929 - Shadow King
1928 - Epilogue
1927 - † Eridanus / Bicolor
1926 - Beedos
1925 - King Of Mirth
1924 - Lilypond
1923 - Englefield
1922 - King Ingoda
1921 - Wirriway
1920 - Luteplayer
1919 - Sea Bound
1918 - Court Jester
1917 - Lingle
1916 - Dame Quickly
1915 - Hush Money
1914 - Uncle Matt
1913 - Gladwyn
1912 - Lord Alwyne
1911 - Prizefighter
1910 - Flavian
1909 - Footpad
1908 - Moani
1907 - Tulkeroo
1906 - Invergordon
1905 - Demas
1904 - Elvo
1903 - Martyr
1902 - Sojourner
1901 - Ohio
1900 - War God
1899 - Miss Carbine
1898 - Plutus
1897 - Metford
1896 - Mischief
1895 - The Trier
1894 - Foxtail
1893 - Straightfire
1892 - Hopetoun
1891 - Pigeontoe
1890 - Grey Gown
1889 - Meteor
1888 - Mara
1887 - The Levite
1886 - Claptrap
1885 - Lesbia
1884 - Favo
1883 - Wallangra
1882 - Odd Trick
1881 - Saunterer
1880 - Wellington
1879 - Trump Yoss
1878 - Levant
1877 - The Vagabond
1876 - Troy
1875 - Kinchrachrie
1874 - Newbold
1873 - Imperial
1872 - Early Morn
1871 - Saladin
1870 - Nimblefoot
1869 - Aurora
See also
References