All-Star Mile, The Everest upgraded to Group 1 status for 2024/25 season

After being confirmed earlier this year that the All-Star Mile would be gaining Group 1 status next year, Racing Australia has announced that The Everest will also be a Group 1 race for the 2024/25 racing season.

The upgraded status was announced in a short statement on Wednesday. The 2024 edition of The Everest will be held at Randwick Racecourse on 19 October.

Racing Australia confirm Group 1 status

Racing Australia, which regulates Group 1 races and all other racing in Australia, confirmed in a statement that The Everest will be a Group 1 race.

“Following the recent agreement and adoption of the Australian Black Type Guidelines by the Racing Australia Board, a review of races under those guidelines is being conducted,” Racing Australia said in their statement on Wednesday.

“As a priority, The Everest and The All-Star Mile, have been determined to have achieved the criteria and will be recognised as a Group 1.”

The decision to upgrade the All-Star Mile and The Everest was also ratified by the Asian Racing Federation. Both governing bodies plan to review other potential races that could be upgraded.

“The All Star Mile and The Everest race upgrades have been ratified internationally. Whilst these upgrades will take immediate effect, further analysis and review of all black type races is being undertaken with the expectation that further announcements will be made in the near future,” Racing Australia explained.

Australia’s richest race gets top status

With $20 million up for grabs, The Everest is Australia’s richest race. It now has the Group 1 status to match its huge prize pool.

Racing NSW Chief Executive Peter V’landys, who helped create The Everest, has spent over eight years working on obtaining Group 1 status.

He celebrated the decision on Wednesday, saying “The Everest has deserved this recognition.”

“It has been the highest-rated sprint in the world most years since it began, and the highest-rated race in Australia. If Group 1 status means anything, it had to be a Group 1,” he added.

All-Star Mile gets new home

In addition to gaining Group 1 status for the 2024/25 season, the All-Star Mile also confirmed a new permanent home.

After spending the last few years bouncing around Australia’s biggest and most well known horse racing tracks, the All-Star Mile will now permanently be run at Flemington next year on a Super Saturday alongside the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap on March 8.

Getting a settled place in the racing calendar at one track was key to the All-Star Mile gaining Group 1 status.