Horse Racing

The Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes, named after the great horse owner Dato Tan Chin Nam, is one of the major lead up races in the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.

Held in September, the 1600m mile event is a weight-for-age race which offers a whopping half a million dollars in prize money. Run on the fantastic Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne, the race has produced five Cox Plate winners since 2000 including Northerly, Makybe Diva and most recently El Segundo in 2007.

Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes History

First run in 1948 and won by Phoibos, the event was originally known as the JF Feehan Stakes for many years until 2005 when it was changed to its current name. Run as an 8 furlong race until 1971 and a principal race until 1978, the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes has also been a guide to the Bletchingly Stakes, JJ Liston Stakes, Mackinnon Stakes, Melbourne Cup and Caulfield Cup.

Won by Lawman in 1981-82, Lad of the Manor repeated this dual success in 2005-06 however the greatest winner of the race was Shorengro which won in three consecutive years from 1968 to 1970. Since 1988, the fastest horses to blitz the race were Our Westminster and Our Poetic Prince in 1988 and 1989. Both horses amazingly won in 1 minute 33.1 seconds. With almost ten seconds added to that record, 2004 Delzao won the stakes in the slowest time of 1 minute 42.5 seconds.

Recent Dato Tan Chin Name Stakes Winners