Telegraph Handicap prize money
The Telegraph Handicap is worth £242,495 for the 2026 running . That makes it the 284th richest of the 997 races on this site and the 11th richest in New Zealand.
The race announces its purse as NZ$550,000, and every figure here is that money converted. The currency control at the top swaps the whole page.
What the Telegraph Handicap is
Group I · 1200m (6 furlongs) · Turf · Trentham Racecourse
- Racecourse
- Trentham Racecourse
- Country
- New Zealand
- Grade
- Group I
- Distance
- 1200m (6 furlongs)
- Surface
- Turf
- Race type
- Thoroughbred - Flat racing
- Open to
- Three-year-olds and up
- Direction
- Left-handed
- First run
- 1891
- As published
- NZ$550,000
We hold the total fund for the Telegraph Handicap and no separate winner's cheque. What the winner takes is a rule the racecourse sets rather than a national one, and it varies race by race.
Run in 1:07.23 in 2026, the Telegraph Handicap pays £3,607 for every second of the race, which is 152nd of the 611 races in horse racing prize money per second and 5th in New Zealand.
Every Telegraph Handicap winner
49 runnings, 1978 to 2026, newest first
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | First Five 58.51:07.23 (soft) | Wiremu Pinn | David Greene |
| 2025 | Grail Seeker 56.51.07.71 (soft) | Kevin Stott | Lance O'Sullivan & Andrew Scott |
| 2024 | Mercurial 58.51:08.51 (good) | Samantha Spratt | Stephen Marsh |
| 2023 | Levante 56.51:07.11 (good) | Ryan Elliot | Ken & Bev Kelso |
| 2022 | Levante 56.51:06.18 (good) | Ryan Elliott | Ken & Bev Kelso |
| 2021 | Avantage 56.51:06.97 (good) | Danielle Johnson | Jamie Richards |
| 2020 | Avantage 56.51:07.04 (good) | Opie Bosson | Jamie Richards |
| 2019 | Enzo's Lad 581:06.95 (good) | Michael McNab | Michael & Matthew Pitman |
| 2018 | Enzo's Lad 55.51:08.30 (good) | Sam Weatherley | Michael & Matthew Pitman |
| 2017 | Signify 551:07.71 | Racha Cuneen | Alex Cowan, Ashburton |
| 2016 | Adventador 55.51:08.34 | Matt Cameron | Gus Lowry & Grant Cullen |
| 2015 | Sacred Star 571:07.71 | Vinnie Colgan | Tony Pike |
| 2014 | Irish Fling 521:07.48 | Mark Du Plessis | Gus Lowry & Grant Cullen |
| 2013 | Final Touch 581:08.53 | Chris Johnson | John & Karen Parsons |
| 2012 | Guiseppina 531:06.94 | James McDonald | Steven Ramsay & Julia Ritchie, Maungatautari |
| 2011 | Mufhasa 56.51:07.04 | Samantha Spratt | Stephen McKee, Ardmore |
| 2010 | Vonusti 52.51:09.36 | Noel Harris | Tim & Margaret Carter |
| 2009 | Mufhasa 55.51:07.39 | Samantha Spratt | Stephen McKee, Ardmore |
| 2008 | Seachange 58.51:06.66 | Gavin McKeon | Ralph Manning, Cambridge |
| 2007 | Darci Brahma 571:07.00 | Opie Bosson | Mark Walker |
| 2006 | Gee I Jane 55.51:07.77 | Scott Seamer | Neville Couchman, Cambridge |
| 2005 | Keeninsky 50.51:07.55 | Allan Peard | Graeme Rogerson & Stephen Autridge, Tuhikaramea |
| 2004 | King's Chapel1:06.79 | Noel Harris | Mark Walker |
| 2003 | Tit For Taat 58.51:07.64 | Michael Walker | Anne Herbert |
| 2002 | Vinaka 52.51:08.06 | Lance O'Sullivan | Jim Gibbs |
| 2001 | Star Of Gold 531:07.76 | Peter D Johnson | Stephen & Trevor McKee |
| 2000 | Fritz 531:07.63 | Noel Harris | Neil Coulbeck, Leithfield |
| 1999 | Bawalaksana 521:06.51 | Lance O'Sullivan | Paul O’Sullivan |
| 1998 | Vegas 51.51:08.85 | Opie Bosson | Graeme Rogerson & Keith Hawtin |
| 1997 | O'Reilly 491:07.36 | Lance O'Sullivan | Dave & Paul O’Sullivan, Matamata |
| 1996 | Loader 551:06.85 | Chris Johnson | Peter J & Dawn M Williams |
| 1995 | Lord Tridan 571:07.06 | Tony Allan | Michael Moroney, Matamata |
| 1994 | Lady Madonna 501:10.40 | Jim O'Styke | Grant Searle |
| 1993 | Victory Dias 49.51:06.59 | Craig Beets | C W & Jim Gibbs & Lance Noble |
| 1992 | Morar 52.51:08.91 | Larry Cassidy | Dave & Paul O’Sullivan |
| 1990 | Mr Tiz 55.51:07.99 | Lance O'Sullivan | Dave & Paul O’Sullivan |
| 1989 | Mr Tiz 50.5 (dead heat)1:07.66 | Lance O'Sullivan | Dave & Paul O’Sullivan |
| 1989 | Festal 49 (dead heat)1:07.66 | Larry Cassidy | Bruce Marsh |
| 1988 | Courier Bay 581:07.45 | David Walsh | G A White |
| 1987 | Courier Bay 54.51:07.45 | David Walsh | G A White |
| 1986 | Tanalyse 54.51:07.35 | David Walsh | D Grubb |
| 1985 | High Regards 48.51:07.23 | Lance O'Sullivan | Dave & Paul O’Sullivan, Matamata |
| 1984 | Mac's Gamble 531:08.45 | Debbie Healey | M M Phillips |
| 1983 | So Modest 49.51:07.52 | Greg Childs | K, KR & N Crawford |
| 1982 | Our Shah 551:09.52 | Lance O'Sullivan | Dave & Paul O’Sullivan & Mike Moroney |
| 1981 | Anderil 54.51:07.50 | C McNab | Dave & Paul O’Sullivan & Mike Moroney |
| 1980 | Flying View 541:09.50 | S Laming | K H Pratt |
| 1979 | Arbre Chene 571:09.75 | R D Vance | P K Cathro |
| 1978 | Extra Flash 471:09.75 | S R Autridge | H W Mathews |
49 of the 49 runnings name the rider, 49 name the trainer and 0 name the owner, who is the one of the three the prize money actually belongs to.
Who wins the Telegraph Handicap more than once
The fact the table above holds and cannot show
Most wins by a trainer
| Horse | Wins | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Levante 56.5 | 2 | 2022, 2023 |
| Avantage 56.5 | 2 | 2020, 2021 |
Races worth about the same
Either side of the Telegraph Handicap in the world money order
| # | Race | Country | Prize money | As published |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 274 | Aintree BowlAintree Racecourse | Great Britain | £250,000 | £250,000 |
| 275 | Aintree HurdleAintree Racecourse | Great Britain | £250,000 | £250,000 |
| 276 | Coral Gold CupNewbury Racecourse | Great Britain | £250,000 | £250,000 |
| 277 | Great Voltigeur StakesYork Racecourse | Great Britain | £250,000 | £250,000 |
| 278 | King George VI ChaseKempton Park, | Great Britain | £250,000 | £250,000 |
| 279 | Liverpool HurdleAintree Racecourse | Great Britain | £250,000 | £250,000 |
| 280 | Melling ChaseAintree Racecourse | Great Britain | £250,000 | £250,000 |
| 281 | Oaks d'ItaliaSan Siro Racecourse | Italy | £243,590 | €285,000 |
| 282 | Livamol ClassicHastings Racecourse | New Zealand | £242,495 | NZ$550,000 |
| 283 | Manawatu Sires Produce StakesAwapuni Racecourse | New Zealand | £242,495 | NZ$550,000 |
| 285 | Gran CriteriumSan Siro Racecourse | Italy | £235,043 | €275,000 |
| 286 | Gran Premio del Jockey ClubSan Siro Racecourse | Italy | £235,043 | €275,000 |
| 287 | Premio Lydia TesioCapannelle Racecourse | Italy | £235,043 | €275,000 |
| 288 | Premio Vittorio di CapuaSan Siro Racecourse | Italy | £235,043 | €275,000 |
| 289 | Singapore DerbySingapore Turf Club | Singapore | £232,560 | S$400,000 |
| 290 | American OaksSanta Anita Park | United States | £225,564 | $300,000 |
| 291 | American Pharoah StakesSanta Anita Park | United States | £225,564 | $300,000 |
| 292 | Clásico del CaribeVariable | £225,564 | $300,000 | |
| 293 | Del Mar Debutante StakesDel Mar Racetrack | United States | £225,564 | $300,000 |
| 294 | Del Mar FuturityDel Mar Racetrack | United States | £225,564 | $300,000 |
The 20 races closest to the Telegraph Handicap in what they pay, above and below it. Follow the ranking all the way up on the richest races in the world.
The rest of the money in New Zealand
35 races, 11th of them is this one
| Race | Racecourse | Grade | Prize money |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand 1000 Guineas | Riccarton Park | Group I | £264,540 |
| New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes | Trentham, Ellerslie, Te Aroha or Te Rapa | Group I | £264,540 |
| Livamol Classic | Hastings Racecourse | Group I | £242,495 |
| Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes | Awapuni Racecourse | Group I | £242,495 |
| Thorndon Mile | Trentham | Group II | £220,450 |
| Zabeel Classic | Ellerslie Racecourse | Group I | £220,450 |
| New Zealand Cup | Riccarton Park Racecourse | Group III | £198,405 |
| Dominion (harness race) | Addington Raceway | Group I | £176,360 |
Every race in New Zealand we hold a purse for is on the New Zealand prize money list.
Frequently asked questions
What is the total Telegraph Handicap prize money?
£242,495, for the 2026 running. The race announces it as NZ$550,000.
Where does the Telegraph Handicap rank among the richest races in the world?
284th of 997. 283 races pay more, the nearest of them Aintree Bowl. In New Zealand it is 11th of 35.
Which horse has won the Telegraph Handicap most often?
Levante 56.5, 2 times, in 2022, 2023.
Which jockey has won the Telegraph Handicap most often?
Lance O'Sullivan, with 7 wins between 1982 and 2002.
When was the Telegraph Handicap first run?
1891. This page holds 49 runnings, from 1978 to 2026.
How far is the Telegraph Handicap?
1200m (6 furlongs), on turf, at Trentham Racecourse.
Where to next
The rest of the racing money