Legendary mare Winx to be honoured at Randwick with new stand

Future generations will know all about the remarkable deeds of the super mare Winx after it was announced a stand is to be built at Randwick in her honour.

The Winx Stand will be built on Randwick's Leger Lawn and cater for approximately 5000 spectators on major race days. It will also be used by the Australian Turf Club year-round for non-raceday events such as conferences, trade shows, exhibitions and university activities.

Pending final planning approvals, the Australian Turf Club (ATC) is aiming to have the Winx Stand open to the public for the running of The Everest in 2020.

The project is a joint initiative of the ATC and Racing New South Wales and will be funded through the Randwick Capital Fund.

Winx won 20 races at Randwick during her career including three-successive Queen Elizabeth Stakes, four-consecutive Chipping Norton Stakes, three George Main Stakes, The Star Doncaster Mile in 2016 and the TAB Epsom in 2015.

Her farewell run, and victory, in last month's Queen Elizabeth attracted a sold-out modern-day record crowd at Randwick of 43,833 people.

The ATC is also progressing with plans to build a statue of Winx at her home course at Rosehill.

ATC chairman Matthew McGrath said: "Winx has provided us with a lifetime of memories and now her name and career will be linked at Randwick and the scene of some her most famous wins. Winx is an Australian sporting icon and it is fitting such a major addition is permanently named in honour of this remarkable horse.

"This new spectator facility at Royal Randwick will provide racing fans with further comfort on major race days including Australia's richest race, The Everest and Sydney's autumn racing carnival."

Racing NSW chief executive Peter V'landys said: "Racing NSW and the ATC have been seeking new public facilities for a period of time. Accordingly, it is very pleasing there are now sufficient funds in the Randwick Capital Fund, which is funded by revenue Racing NSW receives from international pooling and initially from race-fields revenue for these public facilities to come to fruition.

"It's even now more exciting and satisfying to have this public stand named after the people's horse, Winx. This charismatic, once-in-a-generation champion has brought many new people to racing, which in itself causes the need for new public facilities."

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