EQUIMILLION, Australia’s richest event exclusively for retired Thoroughbred racehorses, has received 640 entries for 2026, an increase of 124 entries, or 24 per cent on 2025.
Equimillion is open only to horses that have finished their racing careers. Every horse in the competition has left the track and is being retrained for a second career as an equestrian athlete, with the event prioritising young and amateur riders.
From Friday 2nd to Monday 5th October, over 600 horses will compete at Sydney International Equestrian Centre across Dressage, Show Horse, Eventing and Show Jumping, for more than $1 million in prizemoney offered exclusively to retired Thoroughbred racehorses.
Equimillion is open to the public and free to attend. Visitors have access to the full competition and entertainment program across the October long weekend, with plenty of family fun including pony rides, live music, food trucks, rides and much more.
Equimillion is part of Racing NSW’s investment in the welfare of retired Thoroughbred racehorses. That program is built on the principle that every Thoroughbred must find a suitable new home when its racing career ends, no matter how much it achieved on the track.
Through Team Thoroughbred NSW, Racing NSW retrains and rehomes retired racehorses from six properties across the state, providing a safety net to ensure that all horses are looked after.
Equimillion takes that work into the competition arena and shows equestrian competitors what a retired racehorse can do and gives them an incentive to take one on.
Racing NSW created Equimillion in 2023 to give retired racehorses an opportunity to compete for unprecedented prizemoney across a range of equestrian disciplines.
The event has quickly become a game changer for the rehoming of retired horses and a feature of the Australian equestrian calendar.
Racing NSW Acting Chief Executive Graeme Hinton said this continued growth reflected Equimillion’s increasing importance to the Thoroughbred and equestrian communities.
“We said early on that we hoped Equimillion would become The Everest of the equestrian world and that is very quickly proving to be right,” Mr Hinton said.
“The demand for retired Thoroughbred horses continues to grow and that is a testament to the athleticism and versatility of these wonderful animals.
“Through our partnerships with Pony Club NSW and Equestrian Australia, we will continue to grow this demand, whilst also establishing critical employment pathways for our industry.”
This year’s 640 entries span the four core disciplines, the New Star classes and two new events introduced for 2026.
Introduced last year, the New Star classes are open to horses retired in the previous 12 months, with no nomination fees to compete. They have drawn 169 horses, up 26 per cent on last year, and continue to drive demand for retired horses.
The 2026 program has also been expanded to feature the inaugural Stockman’s Challenge, the Thoroughbred Showcase exposition, live coaching masterclasses, indoor polo, equine education sessions, Pony Club NSW activities and a range of family-friendly entertainment.
Equimillion Executive Officer LaToyah James said the response from competitors had been extremely encouraging.
“To achieve 24 per cent growth on last year is fantastic and reflects the strength of our expanded program,” Mrs James said.
“This year’s event has been designed to welcome riders and horses at different stages of their journey while showcasing the talent, adaptability and potential of retired Thoroughbred racehorses.
“We are also offering much more for spectators, with entertainment, education, shopping, hospitality and activities for the whole family across the October long weekend.
“And the growing list of sponsors and partners allows us to uplift the experience even further and continue to reinvest in the event.”
Equimillion 2026 is proudly supported by its valued major partners Equestrian Australia, Inglis, Lexus of Parramatta, EquaVets, Prydes Easifeed and Duncan Equine Group. Their support helps Equimillion deliver meaningful opportunities for retired Thoroughbred racehorses and the wider equestrian community.
