The TAB Queensland Winter Greyhound Racing Carnival is set to be enhanced through prize money increases to its features.
RQ has unveiled stakes enhancements across the opening month of the re-imagined Winter Carnival, which officially commences at the Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club on May 19.
The Winter Carnival’s opening feature night will include the Brisbane Young Guns and Carnival Chase, which will be run as Group 3 events for the first time at $37,5000 apiece – up $10,250 from 2021.
A fortnight later on June 2, the BGRC 50th Anniversary – formally known as the Carnival Chase – takes centre stage for its inaugural running as a Group 3 event, more than doubling in prize money to $50,000.
Following its postponement in April as a result of the South East Queensland floods, the evening will celebrate the 50-year anniversary of the Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club, having commenced racing operations at the Gabba in 1972.
The Group 2 Flying Amy Classic on June 16 will remain Queensland’s richest event for age-restricted greyhounds, receiving a $37,000 prize money increase to $150,000 – almost triple the amount it was run for in 2019.
The Dashing Corsair for stayers will feature alongside the Flying Amy Classic, upgraded to Group 3 status along with a $10,250 stakes increase to $37,500.
“This year’s TAB Queensland Winter Greyhound Racing Carnival is our most innovative and prestigious yet, and we’re excited to see the nation’s premier chasers descend upon the Sunshine State” RQ EGM Operations Adam Wallish said.
“It’s befitting of the Winter Carnival’s stature to see no less than five races receive Group status for the first time, headlined by the Flying Amy Classic for dogs 30 months and under being run for Group 1 prize money.
“Importantly, it is also great to see the Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club able to celebrate its 50th anniversary with a showcase meeting, after it was postponed following the devastating floods earlier in the year.
“We look forward to unveiling further prize money enhancements across the Winter Carnival as we draw closer to its commencement.”
Following its return to the winter schedule in 2021, ‘Super Night’ will again include a feature race from each of the five distances contested at Albion Park on June 23 (331m, 395m, 520m, 600m, 710m).
The $57,500 Group 3 Super Stayers Invitational continues to offer prospective TAB Queensland Cup hopefuls with a superb opportunity to become acquainted with the Albion Park circuit – incentivised further by a $20,000 prize money injection.
The Super Sprinters, a new addition to the calendar in 2021, will join the Super Stayers as a Group 3 event, providing Brisbane Cup hopefuls the chance to race for $60,000 – almost double the purse from its inaugural running.
Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club CEO Luke Gatehouse said that he was excited to see this year’s Carnival solidify its standing as the nation’s premier place to chase throughout the winter months.
“We cannot wait to welcome back the most lucrative TAB Queensland Winter Greyhound Racing Carnival yet,” Mr Gatehouse said.
“In conjunction with Racing Queensland, we are unified in our aim to position Queensland as the place to chase in winter, and this program ensures that all eyes will be on the Sunshine State.”
Late last year, RQ announced a $4.6 million increase in prize money for the code - headlined by a $150,000 increase to Queensland’s winter showpiece, the Group 1 Brisbane Cup.
Further prize money enhancements to the 2022 TAB Queensland Winter Greyhound Racing Carnival will be announced in the coming weeks.