the Everest
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox horseraces
|surface = Turf
|class = Group 1
|horse race = The Everest
|image =
|caption =
|location = Randwick Racecourse,
Sydney, Australia
|inaugurated = 2017
|race type = Thoroughbred flat
|website = [http://www.theeverest.com.au www.theeverest.com.au]
|sponsor = TAB (2024)
|distance = 1,200 metres
|track = Right-handed
|qualification = $700,000 entry fee (2023)
|weight = Weight for Age
|purse = $20 million (2024){{cite web |title=THE TAB EVEREST |url=https://theeverest.com.au/ |website=theeverest.com.au |publisher=Racing NSW |access-date=2 October 2023}}
|bonuses =}}
The Everest is an Australian Turf Club Group 1 Weight for Age Thoroughbred horse race run over 1,200 metres on turf at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Australia. Between 2017 and 2023 the race was classified as Special Conditions class. In 2024 the race was elevated to Group 1 status.{{cite web|title=Everest turnover smashes records|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/superracing/nsw-racing/everest-turnover-smashes-records-with-huge-50-million-haul-in-first-year/news-story/5583b914d658e29e23ddbced71c9b70c|website=Daily Telegraph|accessdate=22 October 2017|language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Pengilly |first=Adam |date=2023-02-26 |title=Documents reveal how The Everest tore Australian racing apart |url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/racing/documents-reveal-how-the-everest-tore-australian-racing-apart-20230223-p5cmyr.html |access-date=2023-03-08 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}
Prize money was increased in 2018 to $15 million,{{cite web|title=Everest Prize Money increase |url=https://www.justhorseracing.com.au/the-everest |website=JustHorseRacing |accessdate=20 August 2018 |language=en}} and in 2023 to $20 million,{{cite web |title=The Everest prizemoney purse set to increase to $20 million |url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/racing/the-everest-prizemoney-purse-set-to-increase-to-20-million-20230529-p5dc96.html |website=smh.com.au |date=29 May 2023 |publisher=Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=2 October 2023}}{{cite web |title=The TAB Everest 2023 |url=https://www.racenet.com.au/the-everest |website=racenet.com.au |publisher=racenet |access-date=2 October 2023}} it is the richest race in Australia and the richest turf race in the world. It is held annually in October as the feature race of the Sydney Spring Carnival.[https://www.australianturfclub.com.au/21097-2/ The Everest, World's Richest Turf Event] Australian Turf Club 1 February 2017[http://www.foxsports.com.au/horse-racing/royal-randwick-to-host-10m-everest-sprint-at-spring-carnival-making-it-the-richest-race-on-turf/news-story/7dfa69de00c4821e6947a611eb34567b Royal Randwick to host $10m Everest spring at Spring Carnival - making it the richest race on turf] Fox Sports 1 February 2017[http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-01/sydney-to-hold-the-richest-turf-race-in-the-world/8233134 The Everest: Sydney to hold the richest turf race in the world] ABC News 2 February 2017
The race has an unusual entry fee structure, similar to that of the Pegasus World Cup. Twelve "slots" are sold for $700,000 each, which represents a slot in the starting gate for a then unspecified horse. The slot holder then has the right to race, lease, contract or share a starter, or sell their place in the gate. For example, in the 2017 running, slotholder James Harron struck a deal with the owners of Redzel to use his spot to enter their horse, who went on to win the race.{{cite web|title=Redzel climbs to seal Everest|url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/superracing/redzel-climbs-to-seal-10-million-the-everest/news-story/2fb2a3224b0fb02e0ee8788ed0a5abb9|website=The Courier-Mail|accessdate=22 October 2017}}
Prior to the 2018 event, the race attracted criticism{{Cite web|url=https://www.9news.com.au/2018/10/09/15/07/opera-house-everest-projection-brand-critic-racing-nsw-berejiklian|title=Opera House brand guru delivers Everest-sized slap in face to Racing NSW|website=www.9news.com.au|date=9 October 2018 |access-date=2018-10-09}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/sydney-opera-house-action-to-deflect-everest-light-show-20181008-p508f2.html|title=Sydney Opera House 'action' to deflect Everest light show|last=Pitt|first=Helen|date=2018-10-09|website=Sydney Morning Herald|language=en|access-date=2018-10-09}} from the Australian public and media after organisers of the event successfully lobbied for the sails of the Sydney Opera House to be used as an advertisement for the race. Protests against this proposal and government support of it were held at the Opera House along with submission of a petition with over 300,000 signatures collected in less than a week in October 2018, however the pre-race event still went ahead in a modified format.{{Cite news|url=https://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/news/opera-house-light-display-dividing-sydney-will-last-just-six-minutes/news-story/8d48d4150caa93893a1ea7a898f7b05e|title=How the Everest Opera House showdown will play out|work=News.com.au|access-date=2018-10-09}}
In October 2022, the barrier draw was released to the public with a night time display over Sydney Harbour using 501 drones{{Cite web |last=Pengilly |first=Adam |date=2022-10-11 |title=The Everest's drones light up Sydney Harbour |url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/racing/the-everest-s-drones-light-up-sydney-harbour-in-draw-dropping-display-20221011-p5boyu.html |access-date=2022-10-16 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}} and the race attracted 46,221 patrons.
Winners
See also
Held at the same meeting:
Races held on the same day at Caulfield: