Looking for this year’s The Coast betting odds, field and form guide? The experts at Neds have put together everything you need to know before this year’s race.
The Coast Tips 2026
Our exclusive 2026 The Coast tips will be detailed here the week of the race and a full betting preview published on the Neds Blog.
The Coast is a fresh addition to the New South Wales racing scene, established in 2021 to further elevate provincial racing in the state. This $500,000 race isn’t a Group event, but it serves as a key highlight on Gosford Gold Cup Day in early May. Held shortly after “The Championships” at Randwick across the first two weekends of April, The Coast attracts horses ready to keep their momentum going.
Open to three and four-year-olds only, this 1600m handicap race offers a quality test without class restrictions. Beyond the impressive $500,000 prize pool, eligible runners can also compete for a BOBS Silver Bonus of up to $38,500.
The Coast provides a valuable stepping-stone for horses aiming for the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival, particularly the prestigious $1 million Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) held two weeks later.
Since 2024, The Coast shares the racing spotlight with the Group 1 The Goodwood in Adelaide and the Gold Coast’s A.D. Hollindale Stakes Day, while the Listed $300,000 Gosford Gold Cup (2100m) remains the feature race at the Gosford meeting* itself.
*Note, in 2024 the Gosford Gold Cup Day card including The Coast race moved to Newcastle due to the bottomless track conditions and inclement weather at Gosford.
This exciting race follows the successful launch of other notable provincial features like The Gong (1600m) at Kembla Grange and The Hunter (1300m) at Newcastle, both inaugurated in 2019.
The Coast 2026 – Quick Information
- Race Day: Saturday, May 9, 2026
- Track Location: Gosford Racecourse
- Track Surface: Turf
- Track Direction: Right-handed
- Race Distance: 1,600 metres
- Weight Conditions: Quality Handicap
- Qualification: Three-year-olds and Four-year-olds
- Type: Thoroughbred
- Grade: Unlisted (Special Conditions)
- Operator: Gosford Race Club
- Prize Purse: $500,000
- Inaugural Race: 2021
- 2026 The Coast Winner: TBD
The Coast 2026 Results
The official 2026 The Coast results will be available below once the race takes place on Saturday, May 9, 2026.
The Coast Betting 2026
There are many different ways to bet on The Coast, and we have included some of the most popular options below:
| Bet Type | How To Place This Type of Bet on This Year’s The Coast |
|---|---|
| Win Bet | Place your bet on the horse you think will take first place in this year’s The Coast. |
| Place Bet | Place your bet on the horse you think will place in the top three finishers at this year’s The Coast. Pays less than a win bet but offers safer odds. |
| Each-Way Bet | If your runner finishes 1st in The Coast, 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 Coast, in order to win the Quinella. |
| Exacta Bet | You must select the runners that finish 1st and 2nd in the correct order, within The Coast to win the Exacta. |
| Trifecta Bet | You must select runners to finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the correct order, within The Coast to win the Trifecta. |
| First Four | You must select runners that finish 1st, 2nd ,3rd and 4th in the correct order, within The Coast 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 Coast, in order to be eligible to place a Quaddie. |
How To Bet on The Coast 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 The Coast Betting above).
- Select the horse(s) for the race.
Which Horse Will Win The Coast in 2026
The best way to pick which horse will win The Coast in 2026 is to take into account their lead-up autumn racing form, assess the barriers, look for the proven performers and star 1500m runners.
Additional factors to consider when picking The Coast winner include:
- Favourite Flops: In the opening five editions of The Coast from 2021-25 four of the favourites all ran fourth or worse until the 2025 win by Know Thyself ($2.70F).
- Wide Alleys: Three of the first five horses to win The Coast race jumped from double-digit barriers, most recently Know Thyself (barrier 10 in 2025).
The Coast Favourites 2026
Favourites in 2026 The Coast betting will be updated here the week of the race.
Know Thyself ($2.70 in 2025) is the last The Coast favourite to win.
The Coast Field 2026
The official 2026 The Coast field of final acceptances is set for release the Wednesday of race week and will be published below.
The Coast Race Day 2026
2026 The Coast takes place on Saturday, May 9, 2026 alongside the Listed $300,000 Gosford Gold Cup (2100m) and the Listed $250,000 Takeover Target Stakes (1200m).
The Coast Barrier Draw 2026
The 2026 The Coast barrier draw is announced a few days out from the event and will be published in our above The Coast Field section.
The Coast Nominations 2026
2026 The Coast nominations close at 11:00am (AEST) on the Monday of race week.
The Coast Weights 2026
Quality handicap conditions apply to this race. Final weights are announced at 4:00 PM on the Tuesday of race week with the official 2026 The Coast weights on the final acceptances to be published in our above The Coast Field section.
2026 The Coast Topweight:
- TBD
The Coast Acceptances 2026
2026 The Coast final acceptances must be declared before 9:00 AM on the Wednesday of race week and will be published in our above The Coast Field section.
The Coast Jockeys 2026
The final riders’ announcement is at 12:00 PM on the Wednesday of race week with the official 2026 The Coast jockeys to be published in our above The Coast Field section.
The Coast Scratchings 2026
2026 The Coast scratchings close at 7:30 AM on Saturday, May 9, 2026.
The Coast Prize Money 2026
2026 The Coast prize purse is worth $500,000 in total, distributed from places first through to tenth.
| Place | Prize Money |
|---|---|
| 1st | $287,000 |
| 2nd | $94,000 |
| 3rd | $47,500 |
| 4th | $22,250 |
| 5th | $11,750 |
| 6th | $5,000 |
| 7th | $5,000 |
| 8th | $5,000 |
| 9th | $5,000 |
| 10th | $5,000 |
The Coast Race Number 2026
The 2026 The Coast race number is TBC for Saturday, May 9, 2026. There are ten races in total that day at Gosford Racecourse.
The Coast Form Guide 2026
The final form guide will be available the week of the race. You can check below for our full 2026 The Coast Form Guide following final acceptances.
The Coast Live 2026
You can watch or listen to the 2026 The Coast live, across the following mediums.
Pay television: Sky Racing 1 (channel 526 on Foxtel)
Radio: Radio Sport National
Streaming: Racing NSW
The Coast Winners
Winners of The Coast going back to the race’s inauguration in 2021 are detailed in the below table.
| YEAR | WINNER | SECOND | THIRD | TIME |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 2025 | Know Thyself | Depth Of Character | Mare Of Mt Buller | 1:38.68 |
| 2024
(Run at Newcastle) | Magnaspin | Williamsburg | Iknowastar | 1:38.42 |
| 2023 | Palmetto | Welwal | Military Expert | 1:36.49 |
| 2022 | Rustic Steel | O’President | Old Flame | 1:39.31 |
| 2021 | Brandenburg | Nudge | Brutality | 1:37.93 |