Retired racehorses set to star at the Adelaide Equestrian Festival

The Victoria Racing Club (VRC) is proud to support the Adelaide Equestrian Festival at Victoria Park this weekend, which is set to feature many of Australia’s leading thoroughbreds in the equestrian sport of eventing.

The VRC will present a prize for the Best Performed Thoroughbred in the CCI3*L and CCI5*.

Each winner will receive a hospitality package for the 2025 Melbourne Cup Carnival valued at $2,500 and a presentation rug, to be presented by Australian Olympian, retired racehorse advocate and VRC Ambassador Amanda Ross.

Held annually, the Adelaide Equestrian Festival is Australia’s premier equestrian competition and regularly attracts more than 30,000 spectators to enjoy elite equestrian sport in the centre of the city.

It is the only event of its kind held at the elite 5-star level in the Southern Hemisphere and follows a successful showing by the Australian eventing team at the Paris Olympic Games, which saw Australian Christopher Burton take home the individual silver medal.

Winners of last year’s Best Performed Thoroughbred prize in the CCI4*S at last year’s Adelaide Equestrian Festival, former racehorse Bold Venture and his rider Shenae Lowings competed for the Australian eventing team in Paris in 2024 and will compete in the CCI5* at Adelaide Equestrian Festival this year.

Returning from injury, four-time Olympian Shane Rose will also be competing in the CCI5* on two thoroughbreds, The Bandit and Matrixx.

Thoroughbreds have an extensive history of performing at the highest level of equestrian eventing in their post-racing careers, playing a central role in securing gold medals for Australia at a number of Olympic Games, and Adelaide Equestrian Festival has a particularly close relationship with thoroughbreds.

In 2019, former racehorse WillingaPark Clifford and his rider Hazel Shannon became the first combination to win the CCI5* competition three times. 19-year-old WillingaPark Clifford and Hazel will again be competing in the CCI5* this year, a magnificent testament to the longevity of off-the-track thoroughbreds in equestrian careers.

VRC Chief Executive Officer Kylie Rogers said the club is delighted to support former racehorses excelling in their second careers at the elite level of equestrian sport.

“The Adelaide Equestrian Festival showcases the very best of the horse-human bond in equestrian sport and we are delighted to be part of it for the third consecutive year,” Ms Rogers said.

“It is very encouraging to see so many of Australia’s leading riders partnering with off-the-track thoroughbreds at the highest levels of eventing, and we are proud to see them compete under the VRC brand at this event.

“The exceptional skill of these riders, combined with the raw power and talent of the horses, makes for an unmissable spectacle. We’re looking forward to cheering on the thoroughbreds as they put their best hoof forward this weekend and we wish all competitors the very best of luck.”

Adelaide Equestrian Festival Event Director Belinda Lindh said they were pleased to welcome the VRC as a sponsor for the third consecutive year.

“We are delighted to continue our partnership with the Victoria Racing Club in recognising the importance of the thoroughbred as a performance horse at the top level of eventing. Thoroughbreds are strongly represented at the Adelaide Equestrian Festival this year, with one-third of the CCI5* class originally bred to compete on the track, and we are thrilled that they will have the support of the VRC. They are exceptional athletes who excel at so many diverse careers after racing,” Mrs Lindh said.

The Adelaide Equestrian Festival will be held at Victoria Park in Adelaide from 1-4 May 2025. For more information and tickets visit adelaideequestrianfestival.com.