Australian Horse Racing Class Chart

Horse Racing Classes Explained

When you do a deep dive into the form of a horse, you’ll need to know everything about horse racing classes.

They’re not essential for beginner punters, but we’d suggest knowing a little about classes before placing your bets and following any horse racing tips.

It is important to know whether your horse is running in the correct grade or out of its grade. It factors significantly in bookmakers’ markets, so there’s no reason why it shouldn’t be a factor in your betting strategy when betting with the top betting sites in Australia and on their betting apps.

Classes differ slightly depending on the state you’re in – for example, a benchmark 70 race is going to be stronger in Victoria and New South Wales than it is in Queensland.

Horse racing class chart

Class/Benchmark	Description
Group 1	The highest level of horse racing in Australia is an event that attracts the best horses, jockeys, and trainers. Winning a Group 1 race is considered the top achievement in horse racing and have the highest prize money.
Group 2	Group 2 is a step below Group 1 but still features high-quality racing. They are often a prep race for horses aiming for a Group 1 win, with the prize money being lower.
Group 3	Group 3 races are a level below Group 2 but and are often a stepping stone to higher Group races. As you would expect, prize money is generally less than the higher group races.
Listed Races	Listed races are below the Group level but are still extremely competitive and will often feature future Group 1 stars. They often act as development races for horses aiming to compete at the Group levels.
Benchmark Races	Benchmark (BM) races group horses based on a performance rating or “benchmark.” The benchmark system ensures horses of similar ability compete against each other which makes for competitive and fair racing. Prize money varies depending on the benchmark level and race.
Class Races (Class 1, 2, etc.)	Class races are determined by a horse’s previous number of race wins (Class 1 for one win, Class 2 for two wins, Class 3 for three wins). Class races provide a gradual pathway for horses to advance in competition levels.
Maiden Races	Maiden races are for horses that have not yet won a race. They are an entry-level class for younger or inexperienced horses to gain race experience – although you can still see some older horses with several races under their belt going around.

Why you should factor in racing classes when betting

The class your runner is racing in will have an impact on many things. For example, if your runner is rated at Benchmark 64 grade and runs in a Benchmark 84 race, it’s running way out of its grade.

Therefore, it has a lower chance of winning. However, the handicapper will give your runner a lighter weight to counter the difference in class.

On the contrary, if your runner is a high-rated type and drops in class, it will be given a bigger weight.

Factoring in classes is a huge aspect of gambling. Due to the race conditions, a runner rising way up in grade might not be suited by the weights.

All the information on weights and grades can be found in the form guide of most Australian bookmakers.

Different types of horse racing classes

Punters should note: A Benchmark 84 class running on a Wednesday isn’t the same level as a Benchmark 84 class on Saturday.

Premier racing days are always rated above any race midweek unless it’s during the Melbourne Spring Carnival, which races on a Tuesday (for the Melbourne Cup) and Thursday.

Maiden

A maiden class is for horses that have yet to win a race. They carry the lowest prize money of all the classes. There are subcategories of the maiden class, which includes special maidens. A special maiden is a runner who has won a race but is still eligible to race against a maiden field.

Benchmark 58

You won’t see any Benchmark 58 races on a Saturday. These are available for the country and provincial meetings for runners who have broken maiden grades or struggled to win at Benchmark 64.

Benchmark 64

This is the natural progression for a runner who has just won their maiden race. It’s the next step in the career path and although rated lowly, there have been some nice Benchmark 64 types in the past.

Benchmark 70

You’ll often see a Benchmark 70 on a Wednesday or at the start of a Saturday card during the winter or summer months. A Benchmark 70 runner is likely trying to progress through the grades.

Benchmark 78

A Benchmark 78 runner has a touch of class but hasn’t yet gone to the high grades. Some horses stay in this grade for a long time, but it’s a good race to win for any runner looking to scale the heights of group racing.

Benchmark 84

Decent money is on offer for Benchmark 84 horses. They are a common fixture on metropolitan race cards and produce good horses. If your runner is racing consistently in this grade, you have found a good one.

Benchmark 90

The horses running in this grade have been around the traps a few times. They’re the horses that consistently battle it out for the win and have a touch of class. Often, group horses will have a run in this grade to get their season started. However, they will have to carry a big weight.

Benchmark 96

Not the most common race on the calendar, a Benchmark 96 race is often available for resuming stayers looking for something bigger later in the season.

Open Class

Open Class runners have made their way through the grades and are on their way to racing for big money. They are quality horses, and all the major racing tracks host Open Class races every Saturday. A win in this class allows a horse to run for bigger money at the stakes level.

Group Races

There are three different levels of group races: Group 1, Group 2, and Group 3. Group 1 races are the pinnacle of racing in Australia and throughout the world. Group 2s are next best, and Group 3s are a step above open class. Depending on the race, there are different rules for entry, including age and ability.

Weight-for-age

Weight-for-age is technically not a class, but it’s still important for punters to know what it is. A weight-for-age race means the younger the horse, the less weight they carry. For example, a three-year-old horse in the Cox Plate will only carry around 50kg – which can bring it right into winning contention. Some horses prefer racing under weight-for-age conditions rather than in open class.

Editor In Chief

Daryl Curnow

After graduating from the University of Auckland (BA - English), Daryl was thrown into the world of sports and horse racing journalism.

Having worked as a racing journalist for two years, he decided to move into the online world of horse racing and sports writing. After years of honing his craft, Daryl became a professional punter in 2009 - with a focus on horse racing, NRL, AFL, NBA, Rugby, NFL, and US college sports.

Daryl's tips have been featured on various websites around the world before joining the GoBet team. When he's not working, Daryl tries to avoid making bogeys on the golf course.