Australian Group Races are the highest class of thoroughbred race in Australian racing. The Australian Racing Board approves recommended Group races which are then published in 'The Blue Book' by the Jockey Club in the United States to allow Australian feature races to receive international recognition. The most recognised group races in Australia are the Melbourne Cup, Caulfield Cup and WS Cox Plate, which are all Group 1 races.

Group races are divided into 4 categories;
Group 1 - at least $250,000 prizemoney - 60+ races per season
Group 2 - at least $125,000 prizemoney - 80+ races per season
Group 3 - at least $75,000 prizemoney - 110+ races per season
Listed - at least $50,000 prizemoney - 280+ races per season

Owners, breeders, trainers jockeys all aspire to win Group races, the higher the better, and they are commonly referred to as 'Black Type' races and are more prominent at major racing carnivals, especially Melbourne and Sydney during autumn or spring.

Group races often have regular name changes due to new sponsorship deals but overall stay much the same, although a Group race may change status at any point in time if a particular race changes up or down in value according to set out criteria. Group races total over 540+ races each year and assume around 2-3% of total races held each season in Australia.

The Australian racing season runs from August to July each year and below we have listed all the Group 1, Group 2 and Group 3 races on the racing calendar.

Australian Group Races

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August 2008
Date	Track	Grp	Race Name	Distance	Race Type
Aug02-08	Caulfield	G3	Bletchingly Stakes	1200m	WFA
Aug02-08	Rosehill	G3	Missile Stakes	1100m	WFA
Aug09-08	Morphetville	G3	Spring Stakes	1200m	WFA
Aug09-08	Rosehill	G3	San Domenico Stakes	1100m	3yo SW+P
Aug16-08	Caulfield	G2	J J Liston Stakes	1400m	WFA
Aug16-08	Caulfield	G3	W W Cockram Stakes	1200m	Mares SW+P
Aug16-08	Rosehill	G2	Premiere Stakes	1200m	WFA
Aug16-08	Rosehill	G3	The Run To The Roses	1300m	Quality Hcp
Aug23-08	M. Valley	G3	McEwen Stakes	1000m	WFA
Aug23-08	W. Farm	G2	Warwick Stakes	1400m	WFA
Aug23-08	W. Farm	G3	Up And Coming Stakes	1200m	3yoC&G SW+P
Aug23-08	W. Farm	G3	Silver Shadow Stakes	1200m	3yoF SW+P
Aug30-08	Caulfield	G2	Memsie Stakes	1400m	WFA
Aug30-08	Caulfield	G3	HDF Mcneil Stakes	1200m	3yo SW+P
Aug30-08	Rosehill	G2	Golden Rose	1400m	3yo SW
Aug30-08	Rosehill	G3	Concorde Stakes	1100m	Quality Hcp

September 2008
Date	Track	Grp	Race Name	Distance	Race Type
Sep06-08	Flemington	G2	Makybe Diva Stakes	1600m	WFA
Sep06-08	Flemington	G3	Bobbie Lewis Quality	1200m	Quality Hcp
Sep06-08	Flemington	G3	Let's Elope Stakes	1400m	Mares SW+P
Sep06-08	Flemington	G3	Danehill Stakes	1200m	3yo SW+P
Sep06-08	Randwick	G2	Furious Stakes	1400m	3yoF SW
Sep06-08	Randwick	G2	Chelmsford Stakes	1600m	WFA
Sep06-08	Randwick	G3	Tramway Quality Hcp	1400m	Quality Hcp
Sep13-08	M. Valley	G2	W H Stocks Stakes	1600m	WFA
Sep13-08	M. Valley	G2	Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes	1600m	WFA
Sep13-08	M. Valley	G3	Champagne Stakes	1200m	3yoF SW
Sep13-08	Rosehill	G2	Theo Marks Stakes	1300m	Quality Hcp
Sep13-08	Rosehill	G3	Research Stakes	1200m	F&M Quality
Sep13-08	Rosehill	G3	Kingston Town Stakes	2000m	Open Hcp
Sep13-08	M. Valley	G1	Manikato Stakes	1200m	WFA
Sep17-08	Newcastle	G3	Cameron Handicap	1400m	Open Hcp
Sep18-08	Newcastle	G3	Newcastle Gold Cup	2300m	Open Hcp
Sep18-08	Newcastle	G3	Spring Stakes	1600m	3yo SW
Sep20-08	Caulfield	G1	Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes	1400m	Open Hcp
Sep20-08	Caulfield	G1	Underwood Stakes	1800m	WFA
Sep20-08	Caulfield	G3	Thousand Guineas Prelude	1400m	3yoF SW+P
Sep20-08	Caulfield	G3	Caulfield Guineas Prelude	1400m	3yoC&G SW+P
Sep20-08	Caulfield	G3	South Yarra Stakes	1200m	Mares SW+P
Sep20-08	Rosehill	G2	Tea Rose Stakes	1500m	3yoF SW
Sep20-08	Rosehill	G2	Shannon Stakes	1500m	Quality Hcp
Sep20-08	Rosehill	G2	Hill Stakes	1900m	WFA
Sep20-08	Rosehill	G3	Gloaming Stakes	1800m	3yo SW
Sep26-08	M. Valley	G2	Stutt Stakes	1600m	3yo SW
Sep27-08	Randwick	G1	George Main Stakes	1600m	WFA
Sep27-08	Randwick	G2	Stan Fox Stakes	1400m	3yo SW
Sep27-08	Randwick	G3	Bill Ritchie Handicap	1400m	Quality Hcp
Sep27-08	Randwick	G3	Colin Stephen Quality Hcp	2400m	Quality Hcp

October 2008
Date	Track	Grp	Race Name	Distance	Race Type
Oct04-08	Flemington	G1	Turnbull Stakes	2000m	4yo&Up SW+P
Oct04-08	Flemington	G2	Blazer Stakes	1400m	Mares SW+P
Oct04-08	Flemington	G2	Gilgai Stakes	1200m	Open SW+P
Oct04-08	Flemington	G2	Edward Manifold Stakes	1600m	3yoF SW
Oct04-08	Randwick	G1	Spring Champion Stakes	2000m	3yo SW
Oct04-08	Randwick	G1	The Metropolitan	2400m	Open Hcp
Oct04-08	Randwick	G1	Epsom Handicap	1600m	Open Hcp
Oct04-08	Randwick	G1	Flight Stakes	1600m	3yoF SW
Oct04-08	Randwick	G2	Roman Consul Stakes	1200m	3yo SW
Oct04-08	Randwick	G2	The Shorts	1100m	Open SW+P
Oct04-08	Randwick	G3	Craven Plate	2000m	WFA
Oct11-08	Caulfield	G1	Caulfield Guineas	1600m	3yo SW
Oct11-08	Caulfield	G1	Yalumba Stakes	2000m	WFA
Oct11-08	Caulfield	G1	Toorak Handicap	1600m	Open Hcp
Oct11-08	Caulfield	G2	Schillaci Stakes	1000m	WFA
Oct11-08	Caulfield	G2	Presentation Stakes	2400m	Quality Hcp
Oct11-08	Caulfield	G3	Thoroughbred Club Stakes	1200m	3yoF SW+P
Oct15-08	Caulfield	G1	Thousand Guineas	1600m	3yoF SW
Oct18-08	Caulfield	G1	Caulfield Cup	2400m	Open Hcp
Oct18-08	Caulfield	G2	Tristarc Stakes	1400m	Mares SW+P
Oct18-08	Caulfield	G2	Caulfield Sprint	1100m	Open Hcp
Oct18-08	Caulfield	G3	Moonga Stakes	1400m	4yo&Up Hcp
Oct18-08	Caulfield	G3	Norman Robinson Stakes	2000m	3yo SW+P
Oct18-08	Caulfield	G3	David Jones Cup	2000m	Open Hcp
Oct22-08	Geelong	G3	Geelong Cup	2400m	Open Hcp
Oct25-08	Ascot	G3	Prince Of Wales Stakes	1200m	WFA
Oct25-08	M. Valley	G1	WS Cox Plate	2040m	WFA
Oct25-08	M. Valley	G2	Cathay Pacific Airways Cup	2500m	Open SW+P
Oct25-08	M. Valley	G2	Schweppes Stakes	1200m	WFA
Oct25-08	M. Valley	G2	AAMI Vase	2040m	3yo SW
Oct25-08	M. Valley	G2	Crystal Mile	1600m	Open Hcp
Oct25-08	M. Valley	G3	Inglis Mile	1600m	Mares Hcp
Oct25-08	M. Valley	G3	Red Anchor Stakes	1200m	3yo SW+P

November 2008
Date	Track	Grp	Race Name	Distance	Race Type
Nov01-08	Ascot	G3	Asian Beau Stakes	1400m	Quality Hcp
Nov01-08	Flemington	G1	Myer Classic	1600m	WFA
Nov01-08	Flemington	G1	LKS Mackinnon Stakes	2000m	WFA
Nov01-08	Flemington	G1	Coolmore Stud Stakes	1200m	3yo SW
Nov01-08	Flemington	G1	AAMI Victoria Derby	2500m	3yo SW
Nov01-08	Flemington	G2	Wakeful Stakes	2000m	3yoF SW
Nov01-08	Flemington	G2	Salinger Stakes	1200m	Open Hcp
Nov01-08	Flemington	G3	Maribyrnong Plate	1000m	2yo SW
Nov01-08	Flemington	G3	Chatham Stakes	1400m	Open Hcp
Nov01-08	Flemington	G3	SAAB Quality	2500m	Quality Hcp
Nov01-08	Flemington	G3	Carbine Club Stakes	1600m	3yo SW+P
Nov04-08	Flemington	G1	Melbourne Cup	3200m	Open Hcp
Nov06-08	Flemington	G1	Crown Oaks	2500m	3yoF SW
Nov06-08	Hawkesbury	G3	Hawkesbury Gold Cup	1600m	Open Hcp
Nov08-08	Ascot	G2	Lee Steere Stakes	1400m	WFA
Nov08-08	Flemington	G1	Age Classic	1200m	WFA
Nov08-08	Flemington	G1	Emirates Stakes	1600m	Quality Hcp
Nov08-08	Flemington	G2	Matriach Stakes	2000m	Mares SW+P
Nov08-08	Flemington	G3	Queen Elizabeth Stakes	2500m	Quality Hcp
Nov15-08	Ascot	G2	WA Guineas	1600m	3yo SW
Nov15-08	Ascot	G3	Colonel Reeves	1200m	Quality Hcp
Nov15-08	Ascot	G3	R J Peters Stakes	1500m	Quality Hcp
Nov15-08	Sandown	G2	Sandown Guineas	1600m	3yo SW
Nov15-08	Sandown	G2	Sandown Classic	2400m	WFA
Nov15-08	Sandown	G3	Sandown Stakes	1400m	Quality Hcp
Nov22-08	Ascot	G1	Railway Stakes	1600m	Open Hcp
Nov22-08	Sandown	G3	Eclipse Stakes	1800m	Quality Hcp
Nov29-08	Ascot	G2	Winterbottom Stakes	1200m	WFA

December 2008
Date	Track	Grp	Race Name	Distance	Race Type
Dec06-08	Ascot	G1	Kingston Town Classic	1800m	WFA
Dec06-08	Ascot	G3	Lee Steere Classic	1400m	3yo SW
Dec06-08	Doomben	G3	George Moore Stakes	1200m	Quality Hcp
Dec13-08	Ascot	G3	AJ Scahill Stakes	1400m	WFA
Dec17-08	Ascot	G2	CB Cox Stakes	2400m	WFA
Dec20-08	Randwick	G2	Villiers Stakes	1600m	Open Hcp
Dec26-08	Randwick	G3	Summer Cup	2400m	Open Hcp

January 2009
Date	Track	Grp	Race Name	Distance	Race Type
Jan01-09	Ascot	G2	Perth Cup	3200m	Open Hcp
Jan01-09	Flemington	G3	Standish Handicap	1200m	Open Hcp
Jan10-09	Caulfield	G3	Rubiton Stakes	1100m	WFA
Jan10-09	Caulfield	G3	Geoffrey Belmaine Stakes	1100m	Mares SW+P
Jan23-09	M. Valley	G2	Carlyon Stakes	1200m	WFA
Jan31-09	Flemington	G1	Lightning Stakes	1000m	WFA
Jan31-09	Flemington	G3	CS Hayes Stakes	1200m	3yoC&G SW
Jan31-09	Flemington	G3	The Vanity	1200m	3yoF SW
Jan31-09	Hobart	G3	Tasmanian Derby	2200m	3yo SW

February 2009
Date	Track	Grp	Race Name	Distance	Race Type
Feb07-09	Caulfield	G1	CF Orr Stakes	1400m	WFA
Feb07-09	Caulfield	G3	Blue Diamond Prelude Fillies	1100m	2yoF SW
Feb07-09	Caulfield	G3	Blue Diamond Prelude C&G	1100m	2yoC&G SW
Feb07-09	Rosehill	G2	Expressway Stakes	1200m	WFA
Feb09-09	Hobart	G3	Hobart Cup	2200m	Open Hcp
Feb14-09	M. Valley	G1	Australia Stakes	1200m	WFA
Feb14-09	M. Valley	G2	Sunline Stakes	1600m	WFA
Feb14-09	M. Valley	G2	Alister Clark Stakes	1600m	3yoC&G SW
Feb14-09	M. Valley	G2	Moonee Valley Fillies Classic	1500m	3yoF SW
Feb14-09	Randwick	G3	Frederick Clissold Stakes	1200m	Quality Hcp
Feb14-09	Randwick	G2	Breeders Classic	1200m	Mares SW+P
Feb14-09	Randwick	G2	Light Fingers Stakes	1200m	3yoF SW
Feb14-09	Randwick	G2	Royal Sovereign Stakes	1200m	3yoC&G SW
Feb21-09	Ascot	G3	Champion Fillies	1600m	3yoF SW
Feb21-09	Caulfield	G1	Blue Diamond Stakes	1200m	2yo SW
Feb21-09	Caulfield	G1	Oakleigh Plate	1100m	Open Hcp
Feb21-09	Caulfield	G2	Autumn Stakes	1400m	3yo SW+P
Feb21-09	Caulfield	G2	St George Stakes	1800m	WFA
Feb21-09	Caulfield	G3	T S Carlyon Cup	1400m	Open SW+P
Feb21-09	Caulfield	G3	Mannerism Stakes	1400m	Mares SW+P
Feb21-09	Rosehill	G2	Apollo Stakes	1400m	WFA
Feb25-09	Launceston	G3	Launceston Cup	2400m	Open Hcp
Feb28-09	Caulfield	G1	Futurity Stakes	1600m	WFA
Feb28-09	Caulfield	G2	Angus Armanasco Stakes	1400m	3yoF SW
Feb28-09	Morphetville	G3	Breeders Stakes	1200m	2yo SW
Feb28-09	Morphetville	G3	Lord Reims Stakes	2600m	Open SW+P
Feb28-09	Rosehill	G2	Hobartville Stakes	1400m	3yo SW
Feb28-09	Rosehill	G2	Silver Slipper Stakes	1100m	2yo SW
Feb28-09	Rosehill	G3	Millie Fox Stakes	1300m	F&M Quality

March 2009
Date	Track	Grp	Race Name	Distance	Race Type
Mar07-09	Flemington	G1	Australian Guineas	1600m	3yo SW
Mar07-09	Flemington	G1	Newmarket Handicap	1200m	Open Hcp
Mar07-09	Flemington	G1	Australian Cup	2000m	WFA
Mar07-09	Flemington	G2	A.V Kewney Stakes	1600m	3yoF SW
Mar07-09	Flemington	G2	Vrc Sires Produce Stakes	1400m	2yo SW
Mar07-09	Flemington	G3	Frances Tressady Stakes	1400m	Mares SW+P
Mar07-09	Flemington	G3	Thoroughbred Breeders Stks	1200m	2yoF SW
Mar07-09	W. Farm	G1	Chipping Norton Stakes	1600m	WFA
Mar07-09	W. Farm	G2	Surround Stakes	1400m	3yoF SW
Mar07-09	W. Farm	G3	Kindergarten Stakes	1100m	2yo SW
Mar07-09	W. Farm	G3	Liverpool City Cup	1300m	Quality Hcp
Mar09-09	Morphetville	G2	Yallambee Classic	1200m	3yo SW
Mar09-09	Morphetville	G2	Adelaide Cup	3200m	Open Hcp
Mar09-09	Morphetville	G3	R N Irwin Stakes	1100m	WFA
Mar14-09	Flemington	G2	Blamey Stakes	1600m	Open SW+P
Mar14-09	Flemington	G3	Matron Stakes	1600m	Mares SW+P
Mar14-09	Randwick	G1	Randwick Guineas	1600m	3yo SW
Mar14-09	Randwick	G2	Challenge Stakes	1000m	WFA
Mar14-09	Randwick	G3	Sweet Embrace Stakes	1200m	2yoF SW
Mar14-09	Randwick	G3	Skyline Stakes	1200m	2yoC&G SW
Mar14-09	Randwick	G3	Randwick City Stakes	2000m	Quality Hcp
Mar18-09	Ascot	G3	Hyperion Stakes	1400m	WFA
Mar18-09	Newcastle	G3	Newcastle Newmarket Hcp	1400m	Open Hcp
Mar21-09	Morphetville	G1	Australasian Oaks	2000m	3yoF SW
Mar21-09	Morphetville	G1	Robert Sangster Stakes	1200m	WFA
Mar21-09	Morphetville	G3	National Stakes	1200m	2yo SW+P
Mar21-09	Rosehill	G1	Coolmore Stud Classic	1500m	F&M Quality
Mar21-09	Rosehill	G1	Ranvet Stakes	2000m	WFA
Mar21-09	Rosehill	G2	Canterbury Stakes	1300m	WFA
Mar21-09	Rosehill	G2	Todman Slipper Trial	1200m	2yoC&G SW
Mar21-09	Rosehill	G2	Reisling Slipper Trial	1200m	2yoF SW
Mar21-09	Rosehill	G2	Phar Lap Stakes	1500m	3yo SW
Mar21-09	Rosehill	G3	Star Kingdom Stakes	1100m	Open Hcp
Mar28-09	Ascot	G2	Karrakatta Plate	1200m	2yo SW
Mar28-09	Ascot	G3	Strickland Stakes	1800m	WFA
Mar28-09	Rosehill	G1	Rosehill Guineas	2000m	3yo SW
Mar28-09	Rosehill	G2	Pago Pago Stakes	1200m	2yoC&G SW
Mar28-09	Rosehill	G2	Magic Night Stakes	1200m	2yoF SW
Mar28-09	Rosehill	G2	Ajax Stakes	1500m	Quality Hcp
Mar28-09	Rosehill	G3	Birthday Card Stakes	1200m	F&M Quality

April 2009
Date	Track	Grp	Race Name	Distance	Race Type
Apr04-09	Ascot	G3	WA Oaks	2400m	3yoF SW
Apr04-09	Morphetville	G3	Sajc Sires' Produce Stakes	1400m	2yo SW
Apr04-09	Morphetville	G3	Sa Oaks	2500m	3yoF SW
Apr04-09	Rosehill	G1	Golden Slipper Stakes	1200m	2yo SW
Apr04-09	Rosehill	G1	The BMW	2400m	WFA
Apr04-09	Rosehill	G1	George Ryder Stakes	1500m	WFA
Apr04-09	Rosehill	G1	Queen Of The Turf Stakes	1500m	F&M WFA
Apr04-09	Rosehill	G1	Arrowfield Stud Stakes	2000m	3yoF SW
Apr04-09	Rosehill	G2	Tulloch Stakes	2000m	3yoC&G SW
Apr11-09	Ascot	G1	WATC Derby	2400m	3yo SW
Apr11-09	Ascot	G3	WATC Sires Produce Stakes	1400m	2yo SW
Apr11-09	Caulfield	G3	Easter Cup	2000m	Open Hcp
Apr11-09	Caulfield	G3	Victoria Handicap	1400m	Quality Hcp
Apr11-09	Randwick	G1	AJC Australian Derby	2400m	3yo SW
Apr11-09	Randwick	G1	The Galaxy	1000m	Open Hcp
Apr11-09	Randwick	G2	Sapphire Stakes	1200m	F&M SW
Apr11-09	Randwick	G2	Chairmans Handicap	2600m	WFA
Apr11-09	Randwick	G3	Adrian Knox Stakes	2000m	3yoF Qlty
Apr18-09	Morphetville	G2	Queen Of The South Stakes	1600m	F&M SW+P
Apr18-09	Morphetville	G3	D C Mckay Stakes	1100m	Open SW+P
Apr18-09	Randwick	G1	Doncaster Handicap	1600m	Open Hcp
Apr18-09	Randwick	G1	Ajc Sires Produce Stakes	1400m	2yo SW
Apr18-09	Randwick	G1	T J Smith Stakes	1200m	WFA
Apr18-09	Randwick	G1	Ajc Australian Oaks	2400m	3yoF SW
Apr18-09	Randwick	G2	Emancipation Stakes	1600m	F&M SW+P
Apr18-09	Randwick	G3	Frank Packer Plate	2000m	3yo SW
Apr18-09	Randwick	G3	South Pacific Classic	1400m	3yo SW+P
Apr25-09	Eagle Farm	G2	Sir Byrne Hart Stakes	1200m	WFA
Apr25-09	Randwick	G1	All Aged Stakes	1400m	WFA
Apr25-09	Randwick	G1	Champagne Stakes	1600m	2yo SW
Apr25-09	Randwick	G1	Ajc Queen Elizabeth Stakes	2000m	WFA
Apr25-09	Randwick	G1	Sydney Cup	3200m	Open Hcp

May 2009
Date	Track	Grp	Race Name	Distance	Race Type
May02-09	Gold Coast	G2	Hollindale Stakes	1800m	WFA
May02-09	Gold Coast	G3	Gold Coast Guineas	1200m	3yo SW
May02-09	Morphetville	G1	Goodwood	1200m	Open SW+P
May02-09	Morphetville	G1	SA Derby	2500m	3yo SW
May02-09	Morphetville	G3	Auraria Stakes	1800m	3yoF SW+P
May02-09	Morphetville	G3	R A Lee Stakes	1600m	Open SW+P
May09-09	Doomben	G1	BTC Cup	1200m	WFA
May09-09	Doomben	G3	Doomben Classic	1615m	3yo SW
May09-09	Doomben	G3	BTC Chairmans Handicap	2020m	Quality Hcp
May16-09	Doomben	G1	XXXX Doomben Cup	2020m	WFA
May16-09	Doomben	G2	Champagne Classic	1200m	2yo SW
May16-09	Doomben	G3	Labour Day Cup	1615m	WFA
May16-09	Doomben	G3	BTC Sprint	1350m	Quality Hcp
May16-09	Doomben	G3	Doomben Roses	2020m	3yoF SW
May16-09	Doomben	G3	BTC Classic	1350m	SW
May23-09	Doomben	G1	Doomben 10000	1350m	WFA
May23-09	Doomben	G3	Premier's Cup	2200m	Open Hcp
May23-09	Doomben	G3	Rough Habit Plate	2020m	3yo SW
May30-09	Belmont	G3	Roma Cup	1200m	WFA
May30-09	Eagle Farm	G1	Queensland Oaks	2400m	3yoF SW
May30-09	Eagle Farm	G2	Sires Produce Stakes	1400m	2yo SW
May30-09	Eagle Farm	G2	P J O'Shea Stakes	2200m	WFA
May30-09	Eagle Farm	G2	QTC Cup	1300m	Quality Hcp
May30-09	Eagle Farm	G3	Grand Prix Stakes	2100m	3yo SW+P
May30-09	Eagle Farm	G3	Dane Ripper Handicap	1400m	F&M SW+P

June 2009
Date	Track	Grp	Race Name	Distance	Race Type
Jun06-09	Eagle Farm	G1	The T J Smith	1600m	2yo SW
Jun06-09	Eagle Farm	G1	Stradbroke Handicap	1400m	Open Hcp
Jun06-09	Eagle Farm	G1	Queensland Derby	2400m	3yo SW
Jun06-09	Eagle Farm	G2	Brisbane Cup	2400m	Open Hcp
Jun06-09	Eagle Farm	G2	Queensland Guineas	1600m	3yo SW
Jun13-09	Belmont	G3	Belmont Sprint	1400m	Open Hcp
Jun20-09	Eagle Farm	G1	Tattersall'S Winter Stakes	1400m	F&M WFA
Jun20-09	Eagle Farm	G3	Qjc Tattersall'S Cup	2200m	Open Hcp
Jun20-09	Eagle Farm	G3	W J Healy Stakes	1200m	Quality Hcp

July 2009
Date	Track	Grp	Race Name	Distance	Race Type
No Group Races in July

Click here to see all Group 1 feature races held in Australia each year.