TJ Smith Stakes: The $3 million race known as the Everest of the autumn racing season
April 3, 2026
Sky News Australia
The TJ Smith Stakes celebrates 30 years of where speed meets history. The TJ Smith Stakes is a prestigious Group 1 race over 1200 metres at Randwick, worth $3 million, known as the Everest of the autumn racing season. Named after legendary trainer Thomas John TJ Smith, the "Little General" who won 33 consecutive training premierships and a world-record 279 Group 1 winners, the race honours his unmatched dominance of Sydney racing.
Only two horses have achieved the feat of winning the TJ Smith three times in a row: the iconic grey Chautauqua and the powerhouse Nature Strip. A critical pillar of The Championships, the TJ Smith Stakes also serves as a key lead-up to the $20 million TAB Everest. In partnership with Racing NSW.
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