The Hotham Handicap, raced as the Lexus Archer Stakes, is a

Victoria Racing Club The Victoria Racing Club was founded in 1864. It was formed following the disbanding of the Victoria Turf Club and the Victoria Jockey Club. A legacy passed from the Victoria Turf Club was the annual "race that stops a nation", the Melbourne Cup, ...

Group 3

Thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are ...

horse race Horse racing is an equestrian performance sport, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its basic p ...

for horses three years old and older, held under quality handicap conditions, over a distance of 2500 metres, held annually at

Flemington Racecourse Flemington Racecourse is a major horse racing venue located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is most notable for hosting the Melbourne Cup, which is the world's richest handicap and the world's richest 3200-metre horse race. The race ...

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/ Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a me ...

, Australia on Victoria Derby 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 The Melbourne Cup is a Thoroughbred horse race held in Melbourne, Australia. It is a 3200-metre race for three-year-olds and over, conducted by the Victoria Racing Club on the Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Victoria as part of the Me ...

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 60 kg and a minimum weight of 52 kg. The race is also famous due to a triple dead-heat in 1956 involving Fighting Force, Ark Royal and Pandie Sun.

Name

*1869–1978 - Hotham Handicap *1979–1993 - The Dalgety *1994–1995 - Crown Quality *1996 - Ten News Stakes *1997 - Lean Cuisine Quality *1998–2008 - Saab Quality *2009–2018 - Lexus Stakes *2019 - Lexus Hotham Stakes *2022 - Lexus Archer Stakes

Distance

*1869–1971 - 1 miles (~2400 metres) *1972 onwards - 2500 metres

Grade

*1869–1978 - Principal Race *1979–1980 - Group 3 *1981–2003 - Group 2 *2004 onwards - Group 3

Doubles wins

The following thoroughbreds have won the Hotham Handicap –

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).

1954 racebook

File:1954 VRC LKS Mackinnon Stakes Racebook P1.jpg, Front cover 1954 VRC Hotham Handicap racebook. File:1954 VRC LKS Mackinnon Stakes Racebook P2.jpg, 1954 VRC Hotham Handicap raceday officials. File:1954 VRC Hotham Handicap Racebook P3.jpg, Starters and results 1954 Hotham Handicap. File:1954 VRC Hotham Handicap Racebook P4.jpg, Starters and results of the 1954 Hotham Handicap showing the winner, Plato. File:1954 VRC LKS Mackinnon Stakes Racebook P5.jpg, Back cover showing enclosure information for visitors.

Winners

* 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 † Dead heat

References

{{reflist, 2 Horse races in Australia Open middle distance horse races Flemington Racecourse