Horse Racing

The 2017 PB Lawrence Stakes is the first Group 2 race during the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival. Held at Caulfield Racecourse in mid-August, the 1400m event is held on the same day as the Group 3 Vain Stakes (1100m) for colts and geldings and the Group 3 Quezette Stakes (1100m) for the fillies. Worth $200,000 in prize money, the weight-for-age race is open to all horses aged three years and over.

Formerly known as the JJ Liston Stakes, the race name was changed to the P.B. Lawrence Stakes in 2010.

The PB Lawrence Stakes is a nice lead up race to the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) held a fortnight later at Caulfield, which marks the start of elite level racing for the new season in Melbourne. The only horse to manage the P.B. Lawrence Stakes/Memsie Stakes double in the past 30 years is Regal Roller (2004). The PB Lawrence Stakes generally attracts an above average group of gallopers many eyeing a tougher run in something like October’s Group 1 W.S. Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley later in the season.

2017 PB Lawrence Stakes Field

PB Lawrence Stakes History

First won by One Up in 1949, the JJ Liston Stakes was a 10 furlong race until 1968 when it became a 7 furlong race until 1972. After it became a 1400m race, it was quickly elevated to Group Two status. Since its inauguration, Tauto has been the only horse to successfully win two races in 1971 and 1972. The 2007 winner Apache Cat ran a successful campaign after his PB Lawrence Stakes win as he ran second in the Makybe Diva Stakes and then won several Group 1 races. Apache Cat also holds the race’s fastest winning time record with 1 minute 22.1 seconds.

Recent PB Lawrence Stakes Winners