The
Perth Summer Carnival, held at Ascot Racecourse, is Western Australia’s most significant racing event, and is generally the highlight of Perth's social calendar.
The Carnival starts in October with Perth Opening Day, and culminates with the Perth Cup (2400m) on New Year's Day.
Although the carnival continues from October to January, there are two feature race days packed with quality racing.
As well as Group 1 racing, the carnival hosts four Group 2s, eight Group 3s and 17 Listed races as some of the country’s best gallopers make the long trip west to compete with Perth’s finest.
Other races on Super Saturday include the Group 2 WA Guineas (1600m) and Listed events such as the Carbine Club of WA Stakes (1400m), Jungle Mist Classic (1200m), Placid Ark Stakes (1200m) and the Tattersall’s Cup (2100m).
The Carnival finishes up with the time-honoured Group 2
Perth Cup (2400m) which unlike the country’s other state cups was changed from 3200m to 2400m in 2009 to try and attract a higher quality of field.
The Cup has been run since 1887 and in recent times the Group 2 C B Cox Stakes (2100m) held two weeks earlier has been a good guide to the race.