Racing Queensland has formulated a new look Summer Carnival for 2016/17 building on the success of the Magic Millions raceday.
While the carnival will still largely be built around the success and profile of Australia’s richest raceday, the $10 million Magic Millions on Saturday 14 January, Racing Queensland has created four major lead-up racedays at Doomben on 3 December and 17 December, Eagle Farm on New Year’s Eve, and the Gold Coast on 7 January.
Chairman Steve Wilson said six of the eight races at the 31 December meeting would be Black Type Races (the carnival features 16 Black Type races in total).
Mr Wilson said in total, $13 million would be offered in stakes over the entire carnival (an increase of $380,000) which formally started on 19 November 2016 at Eagle Farm and concluded on 28 January 2017 at the Sunshine Coast Turf Club meeting.
“We believe there will continue to be significant interest in the carnival from owners, trainers and punters at a time of year when there are few other Black Type Races on offer around Australia in other racing jurisdictions,” he said.
“The new Board has a lot of energy and is committed to delivering outstanding outcomes for the State of Queensland and the carnival changes we have announced today is just the start.
“The Queensland Summer Racing Carnival is just one exciting new initiative that forms part of the Board’s bold new vision for the racing industry in this state.”
Magic Millions proprietor Gerry Harvey said he was excited to be part of Racing Queensland’s long-term vision for the Queensland Summer Carnival.
“Racing Queensland’s commitment to grow the summer period of racing is clearly evidenced by these program enhancements and increases to prize money for Black Type Races which will benefit Australian thoroughbred industry participants as a whole,” he said.
Magic Millions Managing Director Vin Cox said he was looking forward to the increased participation and depth the new Summer Carnival program would entice.
“The changes to programming provide a pathway for not only 2yos and 3yos, but sprinters, milers, stayers and fillies and mares,” he said.
“There are now opportunities across the board to race in Queensland over summer, earn Black Type and compete on a $10 million race day.”
Other highlights of the new look Queensland Summer Racing Carnival include:
• $250,000 Bernborough Handicap over 1600m at Eagle Farm on New Year’s Eve. The elevation of this race’s prizemoney by $100,000 provides the perfect platform for horses out of the G2 Villiers in Sydney to target the Bernborough. A purse of this size is extraordinary for a race with Listed status.
• The introduction of four Country Cup Qualifiers leading into the Magic Millions Country Cup on 14 January. Each qualifier will be run for a purse of $30,000 with a $20,000 bonus if the winner is Magic Millions registered. The qualifiers will be run at Townsville on 17 December, Sunshine Coast on 18 December, Warwick on 26 December and Rockhampton on 31 December.
• Movement of the final day of the high profile Jockey Origin Series from Brisbane Racing Club to Gold Coast Turf Club on 7 January to showcase the best riders from Australasia a week out from the Magic Millions Raceday. It will be the main Metropolitan Queensland race meeting on the day.
