WJ Healy Stakes
The WJ Healy Stakes is a Group 3 sprint race conducted annually during the Queensland winter carnival by Brisbane's Tattersall's Racing Club at Eagle Farm.
The WJ Healy Stakes is traditionally run at Eagle Farm and was named in 1979 in honour of WJ Healy, the longest serving president of Brisbane's Tattersalls Club from 1933 to 1953. The race had its origins in 1951 as the feature sprint race on the annual Tattersalls Cup program.
Brisbane's Tattersalls Club was formed in 1883 as a sporting club modelled on those established in Britain in the 19th century. It was particularly concerned with horse racing, and held its first race meeting in 1884.
The Healy Stakes has been run over six furlongs/1200m since its inception and is run under quality handicap conditions.
The Healy Stakes became a Listed race in 1979 and has been Group 3 since 1997.
Due to track reconstruction of Eagle Farm racecourse the 2015 Healy Stakes was run at the Gold Coast.
The race record time of 1:08.68 was set by Hay List in 2010.
In 2021, two Magic Millions 2yo Classic winners ran the quinella – Away Game and Exhilarates.
The 2023 WJ Healy Stakes was for prizemoney of $200,000.
It was abandoned due to the coronavirus in 2020.
Other notable winners include Second Earl, Aquanita, Rashlore, Academy Star, Tropic Jewel, Lord Nelson, Swiftly Ann, Blue's Finito, Hit It Benny, Grey Sapphire, Ideal Planet, Toy Pindarri, Clay Hero, Tiny's Finito, Cangronde, Blazing Reality, El Mirada, Super Elegant, Natural Destiny, The Jackal, Hay List, Pinwheel, River Lad, Big Money, Dothraki, Spright, Away Game and Prince Of Boom.
The 2023 WJ Healy Stakes was won by Prince Of Boom from The Big Goodbye and Quantico.