Racing thrills on the track and turf for Channel 7 – Maurie Plant Meet and Autumn Racing Carnival live and free on Seven and 7plus Sport.
Sport fans are in for an epic fortnight on the track and turf, with the Maurie Plant Meet and Australia’s biggest day of Group 1 racing, to bring high class athletics and thoroughbred racing to fans live and free on Seven, 7mate, 7two and 7plus Sport.
It all starts this Saturday, when a group of Australia’s best thoroughbreds take to the track for a massive day of Group 1 racing action live from the TAB Golden Slipper Stakes at Rosehill and William Reid Stakes at Caulfield.
Featuring five Group 1 races at Rosehill, this Saturday’s Golden Slipper marks the 70th anniversary of the richest race for two-year-olds, first run in 1957, and could go down in history as jockey James McDonald attempts to surpass Damien Oliver’s record for the most Group 1 wins by an Australian or New Zealand rider.
With 129 Group 1 victories, Oliver currently holds the record, but that could change on Golden Slipper Stakes Day, with McDonald – currently claiming 128 – set to ride five genuine chances as he looks to claim the title at just 34 years of age.
Local gallopers Chayan, Paradoxium and Warwoven are some of the top fancies to line up in the $5 million Golden Slipper, but Victoria has a great hand in the race this year headlined by Blue Diamond quinella Streisand, Closer To Free and Silver Slipper winner Stretan Ruler. Ciaron Maher-trained Jimmysstar looks hard to beat in the Group 1 $1 million William Reid Stakes, at Caulfield.
Seven’s racing coverage of the TAB Golden Slipper and William Reid Stakes from Caulfield, will kick off on Saturday, 21 March, from 12.00pm AEDT live and free on Seven, 7two and 7plus Sport, featuring horse racing’s #1 commentary team in Bruce McAvaney, Lizzie Jelfs, Emma Freedman and Katelyn McDonald – on her husband’s historic day – at Rosehill, while Jason Richardson and Shane Crawford deliver the action from Caulfield.
Following its debut last Saturday, Seven’s horse racing coverage will include three-time AFL Premiership forward Jack Gunston’s segment Owning the Moment, where he sits down with Michael Gardiner, part owner of Golden Slipper contender Streisand.
Seven’s racing coverage continues on Saturday, 28 March, with Australian Cup Day from Flemington and the Tancred Stakes at Rosehill, leading a massive day of sport on Seven and 7plus Sport.
With a star-studded lineup of world class athletes set to battle it out in front of a packed Lakeside Stadium, the 2026 Maurie Plant Meet makes its prime-time return at 7.00pm AEDT Saturday, 28 March, live and free on Seven and 7plus Sport.
It will be headlined by Australian sprinting sensation Gout Gout, the rising star will be seeking revenge on fellow Aussie sprinter Lachlan Kennedy, who caused a major upset, defeating Gout at the 200m showdown at last year’s event.
Gout and Kennedy will go head-to-head in a highly anticipated rematch of the race, with the 200m final to be the closing event of the 2026 Maurie Plant Meet, live and free on Seven, 7mate, 7two and 7plus Sport.
Gout Gout and Lachie Kennedy are not the only Australian stars hoping to claim victory at the event, with Olympic discus thrower Matt Denny in career best form and coming off a victory at the Adelaide Invitational last weekend.
Calling all the action live from the stadium will be the incomparable Bruce McAvaney, former Stawell Gift winner and 7SPORT host, Jason Richardson, and Olympic Gold medallist, Tamsyn Lewis-Manou, alongside accomplished athletics caller Mitch Dyer.
Bruce McAvaney said:
“The Golden Slipper holds a special significance in the racing calendar and this year, we could be about to witness history.
“The stage is set for James McDonald to etch his name into the history books. He’s just one Group 1 win behind Damien Oliver and has five real chances on Saturday – including two hot favourites – to clinch the record for the most Group 1 wins worldwide by an Australian or New Zealand-born jockey.
“We’ve already seen him partner some incredible horses like Romantic Warrior, Verry Elleegant, Anamoe and Nature Strip, and this weekend he returns with Autumn Glow – who’s unbeaten in 10 starts – and Aeliana. We are in for an incredible day of horse racing,”
– he said.
“We have an unbelievably exciting few weeks of sport to come, and it continues next weekend with the Maurie Plant Meet in Melbourne.
“As Australian Athletics enters another golden era, it’s a real privilege to watch the rise of our next generation of sprint stars, and the rivalry between Gout Gout and Lachlan Kennedy is already must-watch after their incredible battle last year,”
– McAvaney said.
“Add in champions like Nina Kennedy and Matt Denny, and you can feel the momentum building for Australian athletics in a Commonwealth Games year.”
Fans can catch all the action from the turf and the track across the two weekends live and free on Seven, 7mate, 7two and 7plus Sport.
Maurie Plant Meet Live and free, Saturday, 28 March, on Seven, 7mate, 7two and 7plus Sport
Broadcast times on 7plus Sport:
SATURDAY, 21 MARCH
TAB Golden Slipper Stakes Day
Sydney 12.00pm live on Seven and 7plus Sport, 5.30pm live on 7two and 7plus Sport
Melbourne 12.00pm live on Seven and 7plus Sport, 5.30pm live on 7two and 7plus Sport
Brisbane 11.00am live on 7mate and 7plus Sport, 11.30am live on Seven and 7plus Sport
Adelaide 11.30am live Seven and 7plus Sport, 5.00pm live on 7two and 7plus Sport
Perth 9.00am live Seven and 7plus Sport, 12.00pm on 7two and 7plus Sport
SATURDAY, 28 MARCH
Flemington Australian Cup Day and Rosehill Tancred Stakes Day
Sydney 12.00pm live on Seven and 7plus Sport, 5.00pm live on 7two and 7plus Sport
Melbourne 12.00pm live on Seven and 7plus Sport, 5.00pm live on 7two and 7plus Sport
Brisbane 11.00am live on 7mate and 7plus Sport, 11.30am live on Seven and 7plus Sport
Adelaide 11.30am live Seven and 7plus Sport, 5.00pm live on 7two and 7plus Sport
Perth 9.00am live Seven and 7plus Sport, 12.00pm on 7two and 7plus Sport
Maurie Plant Meet
Sydney 7.30pm live on Seven and 7plus Sport
Melbourne 7.30pm live on Seven and 7plus Sport
Brisbane 6.30pm live on 7mate and 7plus Sport
Adelaide 7.00pm live on 7two and 7plus Sport, 7.00pm live on Seven and 7plus Sport
Perth 4.30pm live on 7mate and 7plus Sport
Get involved:
Media Release – Seven
TV Central Horse Racing content HERE
Racing thrills on the track and turf for Channel 7
