What is the longest horse race in Australia?

Q: What is the longest distance horse race in Australia?

The Jericho Cup is Australias longest flat race and is held over the Grand Annual Steeplechase course at Warrnambool Racecourse in Victoria each year. The Jericho Cup (4600m) boasts a total prize pool of $304,000 and is a benchmark 90 race that is restricted to jumps jockeys.

For nearly seven days, Victorian man Adrian Corboy rode half-tamed horses 1000 kilometres across Mongolia’s vast and wild terrain to win the toughest, roughest and longest horse race in the world.

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What is the longest distance horse race in Australia?
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Following the hoof prints of ancient messengers from Genghis Khan’s empire, Mr Corboy endured snow and extreme heat, was menaced by wolves and slept in a well.

He crossed the finish line on Wednesday. A last minute replacement in the Mongol Derby, the Wangaratta father of seven had just two weeks to lose 11 kilograms to qualify to compete.

“It’s a bit surreal. I can’t believe we actually won the toughest race,” Mr Corboy told The Age while still at the finish line.

In its 10th year, Mr Corboy is the fourth Australian to win the event, which holds the Guinness World Record for the World’s Longest Horse Race.

The 37-year-old and his race partner, British rider Annabel Neasham, credit a “guardian angel” for their triumph.

At one point, when they strayed from the route, a child on a pony led the pair out of the fog, telling them to stay on the road and not to stop until they won the race.

“We were lost and I’d say desperate and scared and wet and cold but that was the moment we won the race. I’ll probably never forget it,” Mr Corboy said.

The pair works together for Ciaron Maher Racing.

“Horses are our life,” Mr Corboy said.

The derby traverses 1000 kilometres across Mongolia. Credit:Laurence Squire and The Adventurists

They spent the ride discussing the fish and chips and burgers they’d eat when they got home.

“When we set off, we said we were going to look after each other no matter what,” Mr Corboy said.

Competitors could only race between dawn and dusk and stopped every 40km to change horses.

Each horse was inspected by vets at the check points - if the beast was dehydrated or its heart race too high for too long, the riders were penalised and had to wait two hours before they could ride again.

One night the riders slept in a 15-person room in a remote village.

“I woke up and old nanna was sleeping beside me,” Mr Corboy said.

Mr Corboy’s described Mongolia as “untamed country with untamed men and horses,” but said he can finally take in the scenery properly now they have finished.

“Actually I just want to get out of here. We’re waiting on a ride to get back to town so we can get home,” he said.

The racers fundraised for the Peter Mac Foundation leading up to the event.

“They say it’s a tough race for us. But there is nothing tougher than walking through a hospital room and seeing your child die. That’s what kept us going,” said Mr Corboy, whose wife is expecting their eighth child.

Australia’s longest thoroughbred race run in honour of the war horses of World War 1 has been won by a New Zealand bred galloper for the third successive year.

The $A300,000 4600m Jericho Cup run at Warrnambool in Victoria is a revival of the three-mile race held in the desert in Palestine during World War 1, where 102 years ago the original Jericho Cup was won by famed Australian war horse Bill The Bastard.

This year’s race, on November 29, was won by Count Zero, who won for local trainer Symon Wilde, with Luke Williams in the saddle. Count Zero carried 66kg to victory.

The Jericho is the brainchild of philanthropist and historian Bill Gibbins, who wanted to commemorate the three-mile race held in the desert in Palestine during World War I. The Warrnambool raceday pays tribute to the heroic servicemen and women and their magnificent mounts, The Walers, for their heroic deeds in the Middle East from 1915-1919.

The race is open only to New Zealand and Australian bred horses, and is restricted to jumps jockeys. It was launched in 2018 to mark the anniversary of the original Jericho Cup, and was won by the Anthony Freedman-trained High Mode (by Redwood) in 2018. Last year it was won by the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Ablaze (by Raise The Flag), who went on to win Warrnambool’s Grand Annual Steeplechase (5500m) earlier this year.

Starting at $26, Count Zero landed the fourth victory of his career, winning by a comfortable 4½ lengths from Dambulla (Fastnet Rock) and Wil John (Reset), and fulfilling his trainer’s ambition. “In this race’s short history, it has been a bit of an aim of ours,” Wilde said.

“I love the concept. I think it’s a fantastic race. It’s got real meaning to it. It’s not a pop-up race or money grab like some of the other ones are. It’s got real depth and meaning and it’s a real honour to win the race.”

Jockey Luke Williams and trainer Symon Wilde at the presentation of trophies for the $A300,000 Haymes Paint Jericho Cup (4600m). © Reg Ryan/ NZ Thoroughbred Marketing

It is yet another accolade for Count Zero’s unheralded sire, Zed, a son of Zabeel who stands at Grangewilliam Stud. Zed previously stood at Erewhon Station in the Canterbury high country, where he was put over the station’s Clydesdale and Clyde-Gisborne cross mares.

But since his return from the back blocks, Zed sired six-time Group One winner Verry Elleegant (NZ), in addition to Ballarat Cup hero Irish Flame (NZ), and champion jumpers such as Zed Em (NZ) and venerable Group One winner Survived (NZ).

Wilde paid tribute to Bill Gibbons for getting the concept off the ground. “I think Bill’s created a fantastic raceday — probably one of the biggest racedays on the country circuit in years to come,” Wilde said.

Count Zero was bred by Wanganui farmer Peter Smith and hails from a family that features 1936 Melbourne Cup winner Wotan, who was raced by Smith’s uncles Bob and Pat. It is also the family of Smith’s Gr.1 Wellington Cup (3200m) winner Willy Smith (NZ) (Volksraad), in addition to recent Group Two winner Albarado (NZ) (Savabeel).

Peter Smith said Count Zero’s granddam, My Governess, was a very good race mare, winning the 2003 Listed Feilding Gold Cup (2100m).

“We have still got the dam of Count Zero and we didn’t breed from her this season, but we have done up until now.

“If you want to breed good horses, you have got to go to good sires and Zed is certainly turning into that.”

What is the longest distance horse race in Australia?

The Jericho Cup is Australia's longest flat race and is held over the Grand Annual Steeplechase course at Warrnambool Racecourse in Victoria each year. The Jericho Cup (4600m) boasts a total prize pool of $304,000 and is a benchmark 90 race that is restricted to jumps jockeys.

What is the longest race in horse racing?

The Mongol Derby is an equestrian endurance race. The race extends 1,000 km (621 mi) through the Mongolian Steppe and is known as the world's longest horse race. The course recreates the horse messenger system developed by Genghis Khan in 1224.

What are the biggest horse races in Australia?

The most recognised Group 1 races in Australia each year are the Melbourne Cup, Caulfield Cup and WS Cox Plate in Melbourne, and the Golden Slipper in Sydney. Each of these races are prestigous events on the Australian racing calendar, offering high prize money for participants.