Trainers and officials from across Queensland have welcomed Racing Queensland and UBET’s announcement of a new $350,000 series to boost the 2018 North Queensland Winter Racing Carnival.
The UBET Northern Crowns Series will offer rich bonuses for sprinters and stayers that can win any three of the five nominated races between July and September, across meetings at Rockhampton, Mackay, Townsville, Cairns and FNQ Amateurs.
Cairns Jockey Club General Manager John Cameron said the initiative was an ideal way to boost winter racing in the state’s north.
“This is a good spend of money and will help our club continue to grow our two-day Carnival during August. The bonuses should help attract some quality horses from the South East and I look forward to seeing how the series grows in the years to come,” he said.
Rockhampton trainer Jamie McConachy won the 2017 Townsville and Cairns Cups with Chivadahlii and said he would again set the gelding for a cups campaign in 2018.
“I am thrilled to see this series introduced for participants in our region. The added bonuses would certainly entice trainers to consider extending their horse’s campaigns right throughout the North Queensland Carnival,” he said.
Group 1 winning Brisbane trainer Paul Butterworth is a regular visitor to Rocky and claimed the 2017 Newmarket with Counter Meal. He said he always felt welcome when heading north.
“I love going up there. My horses always seem to thrive whenever we travel to Rocky. I think the bonuses will make South East trainers consider an extended Northern campaign with their horses.”
Tabcorp’s Adam Rytenskild, Managing Director – Wagering and Media said the new bonuses came at an important time for both RQ and Tabcorp with the major Queensland carnivals looming and the racing spotlight on the Sunshine State.
“As a proud partner of Racing Queensland, Tabcorp is committed to supporting the Queensland racing industry in its efforts to attract the best quality thoroughbreds, standardbreds and greyhounds for these three great initiatives,” Rytenskild said.
“UBET sponsors the headline event in each code - the Stradbroke, the Blacks A Fake and the Gold Cup. These new sponsorships provide additional incentives for connections to chase lucrative prize money in Queensland and will enhance interest from punters.
Racing Queensland will continue to ramp up its promotion of the new series via its multiple media platforms.
Sam Hyland will return with Puntersland’s “Cut To The Chase” program, while UBET and Sky Racing will offer enhanced content to increase punter awareness of the North Queensland racing industry.
This will also run in line with Racing Queensland’s ‘We’re Racing Everywhere’ campaign, which aims to encourage track attendance at any of Queensland’s 132 racing clubs.
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