Bill Ritchie Handicap

MCHALE winning the Bill Ritchie Handicap at Randwick in Australia. Picture: Steve Hart

The Bill Ritchie Handicap is a Group 3 race run under Quality Handicap conditions for open class horses at Randwick conducted by the Australian Turf Club.

The Bill Ritchie Handicap is run over 1400m. It was first run in 1978 and was won by Go Mod.

The Bill Ritchie Handicap has been run at Rosehill, Warwick Farm and Randwick where it has been since 2012.

The Bill Ritchie Handicap has always been run over 1400m. It was a Listed race until 1997 then Group 3 after that.

This is a traditional handicap lead up to the Epsom Handicap.

The race was run for many years but not at black type level and not under this name.

Steps In Time, Judged, Probabeel and Atishu are the only mares to win in the last 20 years.

Boban, Kolding, Probabeel, Top Ranked and Rediener are the only horses to do the Bill Ritchie/Epsom Handicap double.

In 2019 Kolding would win the G1 Epsom and inaugural Golden Eagle his next two starts while Fierce Impact took the G1 Toorak and G1 Cantala his next couple.

The 2007 race was not held due to the Equine Influenza break out.

The Bill Ritchie Handicap was worth $250,000 in 2024. The winner is exempt from Epsom Hcp ballot.

Notable winners of the Bill Ritchie Handicap include Rediener (2023), Top Ranked (2022), Probabeel (2020), Kolding (2019), Comin' Through (2017), Manawanui (2014), Boban (2013), Steps In Time (2012), Zabarra (2002/2003), Landsighting (2000), Bezeal Bay (1998), Holy Roller (1997), Monopolize (1995), Rouslan (1994), Prince Of Praise (1992), Our Poverty Bay (1990), Dinky Flyer (1985) and Leica Planet (1983).

The 2024 Bill Ritchie Handicap was won by McHale from Gringotts and Felix Majestic.


Results

21 Sep 2024, BILL RITCHIE HANDICAP , MCHALE 1400m 1:22.36 | RANDWICK | RACHEL KING | CHRIS WALLER
16 Sep 2023, BILL RITCHIE HANDICAP , REDIENER 1400m 1:21.54 | RANDWICK | KATHY O'HARA | CHRIS WALLER
17 Sep 2022, BILL RITCHIE HANDICAP , TOP RANKED 1400m 1:25.09 | RANDWICK | HUGH BOWMAN | ANNABEL NEASHAM
18 Sep 2021, Bill Ritchie Qlty , ATISHU 1400m 1:23.74 | RANDWICK | TIM CLARK | CHRIS WALLER
19 Sep 2020, Bill Ritchie Stakes , PROBABEEL 1400m 1:22.64 | RANDWICK | KERRIN MCEVOY | JAMIE RICHARDS
21 Sep 2019, Bill Ritchie Hcp , KOLDING 1400m 1:22.99 | RANDWICK | GLEN BOSS | CHRIS WALLER
15 Sep 2018, Bill Ritchie Hcp , SIEGE OF QUEBEC 1400m 1:21.56 | RANDWICK | TIM CLARK | G WATERHOUSE & A BOTT
16 Sep 2017, Bill Ritchie Hcp , COMIN' THROUGH 1400m 1:21.67 | RANDWICK | MICHAEL WALKER | CHRIS WALLER
17 Sep 2016, Bill Ritchie Hcp , SONS OF JOHN 1400m 1:22.73 | RANDWICK | BLAKE SHINN | JASON ATTARD
19 Sep 2015, Bill Ritchie Hcp , SADLER'S LAKE 1400m 1:24.79 | RANDWICK | JIM CASSIDY | CHRIS WALLER