The Stawell Gift is a 120-meter race and it's run on grass, on a slight up-slant at Central Park, Stawell. The festive race is conducted once a year over the Easter weekend and broadcast live across Australia. Part of its appeal is the prize money - the winner can pocket as much as $40,000 out of a total prize pool of $60,000 - but if you're wondering what makes this race so unique, the answer lies in the handicapping system that is applied to competitors.
Handicapping System?
While a 10m handicap (in rare occasions even 11m) in a 120m race is a considerable advantage, it still only gives the best sprinters in the country a true chance of winning. At the same time, Australia’s fastest sprinter could essentially be beaten by a teenage amateur. This is the allure of the race.