Friday evening racing in Sydney will unfold at Canterbury Park on 27th February 2026, where an eight-race programme is scheduled from 6.00 PM through to 9.30 PM. The card will feature a blend of short-course speed tests and longer middle-distance contests, with seven races carrying $60,000 in prize money. The highlight of the meeting will be the KIA Canterbury Night Sprint Series Final, which will offer the highest purse of the night at $80,000.
The action will begin at 6.00 PM with the ARROWFIELD GRADUATES HANDICAP over 1100 metres for $60,000. As the shortest trip on the programme, the race will place immediate focus on sharp beginnings and early positioning. Runners who can travel comfortably near the pace are likely to hold a clear advantage in the run home.
Race 2, the INGLIS PREMIER YEARLING SALE HANDICAP, will follow at 6.30 PM over 1200 metres, again for $60,000. The extra distance will allow horses to find their rhythm before building momentum approaching the straight. A steady tempo is expected before the pressure rises in the final stages.
At 7.00 PM, the THE AGENCY REAL ESTATE HANDICAP will test stamina over 1900 metres with $60,000 on offer. This longer journey will demand patience from riders, with race shape and mid-race positioning likely to influence the outcome more than early speed.
The staying theme will continue at 7.30 PM in the QUAYCLEAN HANDICAP, also over 1900 metres for $60,000. Although the distance will mirror Race 3, the tempo could unfold differently, and the ability to sustain a run from the home turn will prove vital.
The pace will lift again at 8.00 PM in the TOYOTA FORKLIFTS HANDICAP over 1250 metres, worth $60,000. The start point over this distance often makes early balance important, and runners who secure clear running into the bend will aim to make their move soon after straightening.
At 8.30 PM, the SCHWEPPES HANDICAP will bring another competitive 1200-metre contest with $60,000 in prize money. The field is likely to stay compact for much of the journey, placing emphasis on timing and acceleration inside the final 200 metres.
The feature of the evening will arrive at 9.00 PM with the KIA CANTERBURY NIGHT SPRINT SERIES FINAL over 1100 metres. Offering $80,000, it will stand as the richest race on the card. The sprint final is expected to produce a strong early tempo, and with little room for error over the short trip, precision and quick decision-making will be crucial.
The programme will close at 9.30 PM with the IRRESISTIBLE POOLS AND SPAS HANDICAP over 1550 metres for $60,000. The final race will combine tactical positioning with controlled stamina, providing a balanced finish to the evening schedule.
With consistent prize money across the card and a standout $80,000 sprint final, Friday’s meeting at Canterbury Park will present a varied and competitive night of metropolitan racing, covering distances from 1100 metres to 1900 metres across the eight-race programme.