Great Eastern Steeplechase Explained

The Great Eastern Steeplechase was an Australian Thoroughbred steeplechase horse race held annually at Oakbank, South Australia on Easter Saturday and Monday at the Oakbank Racecourse as part of the Oakbank Easter Racing Carnival. The first fixture of that name was held in 1877,^[1] following a race in 1876 which has been called the "Onkaparinga Handicap Steeplechase";^[2] both just prior to formation of the Onkaparinga Racing Club (now Oakbank Racing Club).

The distance of the race is 4950 metres making it the second longest horse race held on a public course in Australia.

The most famous jump is the fallen log which is literally a log about a metre high. All other jumps are brush fences. The height of jumps has been reduced in recent years to reduce the risk of falls and make for safer racing.

The race uses a different course to other races held at Oakbank with horse using an inner track passing on the inside of a hill. Unlike other races that require two race callers the Great Eastern can be viewed in its entirety from the grandstand.

On October 1, 2021, it was announced that jumps racing will no longer be conducted in South Australia mainly due to the small number of South Australian jumps horses. There were plans to run the Great Eastern and Von Doussa Steeplechase as a flat race.^[3] However, on 3 March 2022 it was announced that would not happen.^[4] However, many jumps racing supporters attempted to keep jumps racing at Oakbank and that fight went into the South Australian Court System.^[5] That would result in an election occurring which the anti-jumps faction won but debate surrounding that vote spilled into more legal action.^[6] But not long after the South Australian Government stepped in and outlawed jumps racing in the state.^[7]

Past winners

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2021 – Spying on You 2020 – race not held 2019 – Zed Em 2018 – Zed Em 2017 – Spying on You 2016 – Thubiaan (USA) 2015 – Lord of the Song 2014 – Lord of the Song^[8] 2013 – Man of Class^[9] 2012 – Tobouggie Nights^[10] 2011 – Petushki^[11] 2010 – It's A Dud^[12] 2009 – Pentacolo 2008 – Conzeal 2007 – Blase 2006 – Real Tonic 2005 – Chakra 2004 – Boxter Blue 2003 – Raquets 2002 – Ballata 2001 – St. Steven^[13] 2000 – Bruskin 1999 – Planet Hollywood 1998 – Turkey Lane 1997 – Foxboy 1996 – Light Hand 1995 – Light Hand 1994 – Tyrolia 1993 – Touch Judge 1992 – Vinchiamo 1991 – Look at Me 1990 – Commission Red 1989 – Brown Cast 1988 – River Amos 1987 – Spring Fortune 1986 – Region 1985 – Battle So Big 1984 – Headford Town 1983 – Venite 1982 – Donrewen 1981 – Dark Shareif 1980 – Lord Rocky Red 1979 – Heroic Speech 1978 – Roughneck 1977 – The Champ 1976 – Aberfoyle 1975 – Vermet 1974 – Club Spirit

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1973 – The Cent 1972 – Club Spirit 1971 – Crusoe Cloud 1970 – Mystic Moon 1969 – Halbrian 1968 – Robin Star 1967 – Con Sol 1966 – Kooroshali 1965 – Kooroshali 1964 – First Shuffle 1963 – Blue Gum 1962 – Grecian Valour 1961 – Moonacoota 1960 – Peakite 1959 – Sebago 1958 – Tory Star 1957 – Just Mick 1956 – Teedum 1955 – The Drum 1954 – Lynford 1953 – Gulf Stream 1952 – Royal Pentzia 1951 – The Feline 1950 – Parilla's Pride 1949 – Footling 1948 – The Feline 1947 – Marble Hill 1946 – Ajester 1945 – Winterset 1944 – Lime Rock 1943 – race not held 1942 – race not held 1941 – National Debt 1940 – Bully Hayes 1939 – Grantley 1938 – race meeting abandoned 1937 – Lady Madge 1936 – Gnair 1935 – Kingstol 1934 – Kenjin 1933 – Pispoia King 1932 – Archeson 1931 – Shooting Boy 1930 – Woomera 1929 – Laurelmond 1928 – Epergne 1927 – Unohoo / Mt. Cooper (dead heat) 1926 – Mt. Cooper

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1925 – Dundalk 1924 – Fleetstone 1923 – Doiran 1922 – Doiran 1921 – Albaree 1920 – Miss Rosslyn 1919 – Doiran 1918 – Doiran 1917 – Flash Jack 1916 – Wyndarra 1915 – Tramp 1914 – Vanguard 1913 – Tramp 1912 – Vanguard 1911 – Matchlock 1910 – Generality 1909 – Workmaster 1908 – Tarpon 1907 – Napier 1906 – Bombastes 1905 – Poster 1904 – Syringa 1903 – Drummer 1902 – Ronald 1901 – Wooral 1900 – Euro 1899 – Domino 1898 – Songster 1897 – Eclipse 1896 – Dungan 1895 – Waterloo 1894 – The Actress 1893 – Shanks 1892 – Vistula 1891 – Messenger 1890 – Mahdi 1889 – Flashlight 1888 – Adeline 1887 – Swordfish 1886 – Charcoal 1885 – Swordfish 1884 – Trigger 1883 – Depriver 1882 – Hotspur 1881 – Trigger 1880 – Gunn 1879 – Lightfoot 1878 – Darkie 1877 – Darkie 1876 – Tormentor

References

• Oakbank Racing Club
• Heroes and Warriors – The Great Eastern Steeplechase

Notes and References

1. News: Onkaparinga Annual Races . . XLII . 9480 . South Australia . 3 April 1877 . 25 June 2017 . 6 . National Library of Australia.
2. News: History . . 66 . 20,823 . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 17 April 1992 . 25 June 2017 . 10 . National Library of Australia.
3. News: Jumps racing to be removed from South Australia's racing calendar from next year. www.abc.net.au/. 5 October 2021.
4. News: Change of heart as Oakbank retires names of iconic jumps races. www.racenet.com.au. 4 March 2022.
5. News: Legal fight intensifies over Oakbank jumps decision. www.racenet.com.au. 4 March 2022.
6. News: New legal challenge looms as racing rebels reject 'flawed' Oakbank ballot. www.indaily.com.au. 7 July 2022.
7. News: Jumps racing ban made law in SA. www.canberratimes.com.au. 7 July 2022.
8. http://www.racingvictoria.net.au/racing/race.aspx?meet_code=856107&race_code=1060132 2014 result
9. http://www.racingvictoria.net.au/racing/race.aspx?meet_code=850530&race_code=1025593 2013 result
10. http://www.racingvictoria.net.au/racing/race.aspx?meet_code=845211&race_code=1001875 2012 result
11. http://www.racingvictoria.net.au/racing/race.aspx?meet_code=834206&race_code=975171 2011 result
12. http://www.racingvictoria.net.au/racing/race.aspx?meet_code=823705&race_code=944603 2010 result
13. http://www.racingvictoria.net.au/racing/race.aspx?meet_code=363112&race_code=429548 2001 result