While much of the year’s racing hype has slowed down after the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival, both Perth and Sydney are still hosting a number of horse races over the December-Christmas period.

On Saturday December 5, Ascot Racecourse will host the Group One Kingston Town Classic worth $500,000 in prize money.

This 1800m distance staying event is a weight-for-age race and is considered the second biggest race during the Perth Sumer Racing Carnival after tomorrow’s $1 million Railway Stakes.

The same day is also host to the Group Three Lee Steere Classic, which is a 1400m race for three year old horses.

Worth $125,000 in prize money, the set weights race is ideal for horses which have already run in the WA Guineas held three weeks earlier.

The George Moore Stakes is held at Doomben Racecourse, Brisbane on the same day and is a $200,000 quality handicap.

Because of the hot climate in Brisbane around this time, the race is generally more suited to local horses which are capable of enduring the heat.

On December 12 Ascot Racecourse will host the Group Three AJ Scahill Stakes while the following Wednesday, December 16 the racecourse will host the $250,000 CB Cox Stakes.

Randwick Racecourse also takes part in the Christmas frivolities by hosting a race day on December 19.

The major event on this day is the Group Two Villiers Stakes which is a mile event worth $150,000 in prize money.

The final major race of the year is the Group Three Summer Cup held on December 26 at Royal Randwick.

This 2400m race is an open handicap event worth $125,000 in prize money and it is only a few days later that the first races of 2010 will take place with the Perth Cup on January 1.