Race Highest class of race, reserved for the best horses.
A race for which the owner usually must pay a fee to run a horse. The fees can be for nominating, maintaining eligibility, entering and starting, to which the track adds more money to make up the total purse. Some stakes races are by invitation and require no payment or fee.
(i) Prizemoney, or (ii) A Feature race
Short for Sweepstakes. A race in which owners pay a fee to nominate, enter and run their horses. To attract the best possible eligible runners by increasing the total purse, "added money" is put up by the track racing association or sponsor. Nominations are usually taken months in advance of the race and entries close at least 72 hours before the running of the race.
A race which has entries close 72 hours before the running of the race and in which the owners of the entries put up money to run in the race. Winning or placing in stakes qualifies a horse for “black-type” on a catalog page.
A race for which there is often a nomination and entry fee and for which horses must be nominated (or invited) in advance, as opposed to an overnight race.
An open race which any horse can enter. Usually attracts most-talented horses. NSA requires purse of at least $25,000.
The VRC Stakes (also known as the VRC Emirates Stakes), is the final day of the Melbourne Cup Spring Racing Carnival at Flemington. Stakes Day is held on the Saturday directly following Melbourne Cup Day (the first Tuesday in November). The 'Stakes' were first run in 1881.