Looking for this year’s Ken Russell Memorial Classic betting odds, field and race day tips? The experts at Neds have put together everything you need to know before this year’s race.
Ken Russell Memorial Classic 2026 Tips
Our exclusive 2026 Ken Russell Memorial Classic tips will be detailed here the week of the race and a full betting preview published on the Neds Blog.
The Ken Russell Memorial Classic is a Group 3 race contested at the Gold Coast, or in recent years the Sunshine Coast, in May as part of the wider Queensland Winter Racing Carnival.
The 1200m sprint is open only to two-year-old horses and offers $200,000 in prize money.
It takes place on A.D. Hollindale Stakes Day, which in 2023 and 2024 runs at the Sunshine Coast with ongoing Gold Coast track upgrades.
First held in 1974, the race was originally run over 1400m but is now a six-furlong showdown for juveniles.
The Ken Russell Memorial Classic winner is exempt from ballot for the upcoming Group 1 J.J. Atkins (1600m) in Brisbane at Eagle Farm on Stradbroke Day.
Sizzling (2012) was the last horse to do the Ken Russell – JJ Atkins race double.
The race is named in honour of fallen hoop Ken Russell, a leading Gold Coast jockey who tragically lost his life in a Rosehill race fall back in 1993.
In 2025 Beadman won by a record margin of 8.3 lengths as the odds-on favourite.
Ken Russell Memorial Classic 2026 – Quick Information
- Race Day: Saturday, May 9, 2026
- Track Location: Gold Coast Racecourse
- Track Surface: Turf
- Track Direction: Right-handed
- Race Distance: 1,200 metres
- Weight Conditions: Set Weights
- Qualification: Two-year-olds
- Type: Thoroughbred
- Grade: Group 3
- Operator: Gold Coast Turf Club
- Prize Purse: $200,000
- Inaugural Race: 1974
- 2026 Ken Russell Memorial Classic Winner: TBD
Ken Russell Memorial Classic 2026 Results
The official 2026 Ken Russell Memorial Classic results will be available below once the race takes place on Saturday, May 9, 2026.
Ken Russell Memorial Classic Betting 2026
There are many different ways to bet on the Ken Russell Memorial Classic, and we have included some of the most popular options below:
| Bet Type | How To Place This Type of Bet on This Year’s Ken Russell Memorial Classic |
|---|---|
| Win Bet | Place your bet on the horse you think will take first place in this year’s Ken Russell Memorial Classic. |
| Place Bet | Place your bet on the horse you think will place in the top three finishers at this year’s Ken Russell Memorial Classic. Pays less than a win bet but offers safer odds. |
| Each-Way Bet | If your runner finishes 1st in the Ken Russell Memorial Classic, you will collect both the Win and the Place dividend. If your horse finishes 2nd or 3rd you will collect the Place dividend. |
| Quinella Bet | You must select the runners that finish 1st and 2nd in any order, within the Ken Russell Memorial Classic, in order to win the Quinella. |
| Exacta Bet | You must select the runners that finish 1st and 2nd in the correct order, within the Ken Russell Memorial Classic to win the Exacta. |
| Trifecta Bet | You must select runners to finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the correct order, within the Ken Russell Memorial Classic to win the Trifecta. |
| First Four | You must select runners that finish 1st, 2nd ,3rd and 4th in the correct order, within the Ken Russell Memorial Classic to win the First 4. |
| Quadrella Bet (Quaddie) | You must select the winners of four nominated races to win the Quaddie. This means you would have to select three other races apart from the Ken Russell Memorial Classic, in order to be eligible to place a Quaddie. |
How To Bet on The Ken Russell Memorial Classic in 2026
- Join up at neds.com.au
- Make a deposit, using your credit card, PayPal or other safe electronic method
- Make sure to check out form guide, once it’s released
- Decide what kind of bet you’re going to place (Win, Place, Each-Way, Trifecta + more betting options, please read our section on Ken Russell Memorial Classic Betting above).
- Select the horse(s) for the race.
Which Horse Will Win the Ken Russell Memorial Classic
The best way to pick which horse will win the Ken Russell Memorial Classic in 2026 is to take into account their lead-up autumn / winter racing form, assess the barriers, consider the weight scale and look for the proven Group performers.
Additional factors to consider when picking the Ken Russell Memorial Classic winner include:
- Boys’ Club: Since 2008 just three fillies have beaten home the boys in the Ken Russell Memorial Classic, most recently Russian Alliance (2023).
- Local Runners: The locally, Queensland-trained two-year-olds have a strong record over the interstate visitors in this event.
Ken Russell Memorial Classic Favourites 2026
Favourites in 2026 Ken Russell Memorial Classic betting will be updated here the week of the race.
Wisdom Of Water ($1.35 in 2020), Nettuno ($2.20 in 2022), Althoff ($5 in 2024), and Beadman ($1.80 in 2025) are the latest Ken Russell Memorial Classic favourites to win.
Ken Russell Memorial Classic 2026 Field
The 2026 Ken Russell Memorial Classic field of final acceptances is set for release on the Wednesday of race week and will be published in full below once announced.
Ken Russell Memorial Classic Race Day 2026
The 2026 Ken Russell Memorial Classic takes place on Saturday, May 9, 2026 as part of the 2026 AD Hollindale Stakes Day card at the Gold Coast.
The Group 2 A.D. Hollindale Stakes is the marquee race on the card and is accompanied by the Group 3 Gold Coast Guineas and the Group 3 Ken Russell Memorial Classic.
Ken Russell Memorial Classic Barrier Draw 2026
The 2026 Ken Russell Memorial Classic barrier draw will be released to the public a few days before the race and published in our above Ken Russell Memorial Classic Field section.
Ken Russell Memorial Classic Nominations 2026
The Ken Russell Memorial Classic 2026 nominations close at 11:00 AM on the Monday of race week.
Ken Russell Memorial Classic Weights 2026
Set weights conditions apply to this race. Final weights are announced at 4:00 PM on the Tuesday of race week with the official 2026 Ken Russell Memorial Classic weights on the final acceptors to be published in our above Ken Russell Memorial Classic Field section.
Ken Russell Memorial Classic Acceptances 2026
2026 Ken Russell Memorial Classic final acceptances must be declared before 9:00 AM on the Wednesday of race week and will be published in our above Ken Russell Memorial Classic Field section.
Ken Russell Memorial Classic Jockeys 2026
The final riders’ announcement is at 12:00 PM on the Wednesday of race week with the official 2026 Ken Russell Memorial Classic jockeys to be published in our above Ken Russell Memorial Classic Field section.
Ken Russell Memorial Classic Scratchings 2026
2026 Ken Russell Memorial Classic scratchings close at 7:30 AM on Saturday, May 9, 2026.
Ken Russell Memorial Classic Prize Money 2026
The 2026 Ken Russell Memorial Classic prize purse is worth $200,000 in total, distributed from places first through to tenth.
| Place | Prize Money |
|---|---|
| 1st | $116,000 |
| 2nd | $37,000 |
| 3rd | $18,000 |
| 4th | $9,750 |
| 5th | $5,500 |
| 6th | $2,750 |
| 7th | $2,750 |
| 8th | $2,750 |
| 9th | $2,750 |
| 10th | $2,750 |
Ken Russell Memorial Classic Race Number 2026
The 2026 Ken Russell Memorial Classic race number is TBC for Saturday, May 9, 2026. There are nine races in total that day at the Gold Coast Racecourse.
Ken Russell Memorial Classic Form Guide 2026
The final form guide will be available the week of the race. You can check below for our full 2026 Ken Russell Memorial Classic Form Guide following final acceptances.
Ken Russell Memorial Classic Live 2026
You can watch or listen to the 2026 Ken Russell Memorial Classic live, across the following mediums.
Pay television: Sky Racing 1 (channel 526 on Foxtel)
Radio: Radio Sport National
Ken Russell Memorial Classic Winners
Winners of the Ken Russell Memorial Classic going back to the year 2012 are displayed in the table below.
| Year | Winner | 2nd | 3rd | Time |
| 2026 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 2025 | Beadman | Sunrays | Fabulantes | 1:10.63 |
| 2024 | Althoff | Silva ‘N’ Suave | Gin A Tonic | 1:13.71 |
| 2023 | Russian Alliance | Abounding | Trifling | 1:11.2 |
| 2022 | Nettuno | Midnight In Tokyo | Sheeza Belter | 1:14.3 |
| 2021 | Subterranean | Ranch Hand | Rhapsody Rose | 1:11.6 |
| 2020 | Wisdom Of Water | =2 Tick Tock Boom | =2 Superare | 1:09.1 |
| 2019 | Stronger | Accession | Take Tea | 1:13.1 |
| 2018 | Sesar | Boomsara | Lean Mean Machine | 1:08.6 |
| 2017 | Taking Aim | Dissolution | Lord Cecil | 1:08.8 |
| 2016 | Royal Tithe | Oink | Impending | 1:10.1 |
| 2015 | Big Tree | Blueberry Hill | Regatta Rebel | 1:11.4 |
| 2014 | Aimee | Sagatona | Goodbye Kevin | 1:14.0 |
| 2013 | Le Val | Londehero | Diamond Oasis | 1:09.7 |
| 2012 | Sizzling | Dances On Stars | Dansonate | 1:14.7 |