The Stawell Gift is Australia's oldest and richest short-distance running race.

The main event at the annual carnival held on Easter weekend by the Stawell Athletic Club has Australia's two biggest sprint stars in Gout Gout and Lachlan Kennedy hoping to win the $40,000 grand prize.

The Stawell Gift’s Event Management Chair Murray Emerson told Luke Bradnam on 4BC Breakfast, "The unfortunate part for Gout and Lachlan Kennedy they're just actually recently coming into professional running so they're going to get tight marks initially to allow the other runners who perhaps haven't got the same abilities to give us an even finish and that's the idea of it all."