In honour of the founder of Moonee Valley, William Samuel Cox, the Moonee Valley Racing Club Committee decided to run a weight-for-age race over 2040m.
Offering a purse of 1000 Pounds, the W.S. Cox Plate was first run in 1922 and was won by imported stallion Violencello. He was a nine-year-old who the previous year had won the Caulfield Cup at only his fifth start in Australia after being brought out from England.
Strategically placed on the racing calendar between the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, the Tatts Cox Plate has become a race of great importance and prestige.
The Tatts Cox Plate is regarded as the premier race in Australasia and one of the most exciting race days in the world.
It attracts a field of the best horses on offer. The who's who of the Australasian turf have all won the race including Phar Lap, Kingston Town, Rising Fast, Dulcify, Gunsynd, Super Impose, Octagonal, Might and Power, Sunline, Northerly and more recently champion mare and Australian Racing Hall of Fame inductee Makybe Diva.
Tatts Cox Plate Today
Today the Tattersall's Cox Plate carries total prizemoney of $3,140,000. It is the second richest race in Australia behind the Melbourne Cup.
The Tatts Cox Plate has provided racegoers with many great racing memories and will continue to for many more years to come. The 2008 Tatts Cox Plate will be run on Saturday October 25.
To find out more about the Tatts Cox Plate, past performances, fashion, hospitality and things to know on the day, please select an option from the left-hand menu.
For more information on Tatts Cox Plate Packages click here.
