The Stradbroke Habit 

 
The Stradbroke Handicap has an illustrious 133-year history and a new chapter is being written this year, with its prizemoney doubled to $3 million.

As The Star Stradbroke Season gets underway, this signature Queensland Group 1 race will be celebrated at a special National Trust Heritage Festival Event The Stradbroke Habit, to be held at Eagle Farm Racecourse on Tuesday, May 9, from 6.30pm.

Supported by the Thoroughbred Racing History Association and Brisbane Racing Club, the event will be held in The Tote Building, which houses the Queensland Horse Racing Museum. As well as hearing colourful tales shared about the race’s rich history, guests will be able to look through the Museum’s showcase of associated memorabilia.

BRC’s racing analyst Bart Sinclair and race broadcaster David Fowler will be your hosts for the event.

Entry is by donation. To register to attend, email heritage@brc.com.au or phone 3630 2245.

Bay gelding Pyrrhus took out the first Stradbroke Handicap in 1890. The race was run over 6 furlongs and remained at the same distance until 1953 when it changed to 7 furlongs, and then in 1972 to its current distance of 1400 metres.

Over the decades, many Queensland gallopers, including Show A Heart, Daybreak Lover, La Montagna, River Lad, Spedito, Dancing Poet, Mullala, Mister Hush, and Highland have bested their interstate counterparts to take home the trophy, some of them twice.