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Major increases for 2019 TAB Winter Carnival

24 January 2019

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Prize money increases of $1.7 million and a return to the historic Eagle Farm Racecourse headline a number of exciting changes to the 2019 TAB Queensland Winter Racing Carnival, Racing Queensland and the Brisbane Racing Club (BRC) have announced.

Horses will race for $18.4 million across the carnival, which counts the likes of The Autumn Sun, Santa Ana Lane, Redzel, Youngstar, Lean Mean Machine and Dark Dream as recent graduates to enjoy further success in the spring or overseas.   

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL WINTER CARNIVAL SCHEDULE

Racing Queensland CEO Brendan Parnell said the increases aimed to attract more emerging stars to Queensland across the winter period.

“It is hoped this will enhance the carnival’s reputation as a nursery for Australasia’s emerging two-year-old and three-year-old stars,” Mr Parnell said.  

Two-Year-Old horses will now race for $2 million across the program with the BRC Sires’ increased to $400,000 and the Champagne Stakes to $200,000.

Doomben

JAGUAR LAND ROVER J.J. ATKINS PLATE 1600m

Queensland’s Group 1 sprinting ‘Triple Crown’ – the Doomben 10,000, Kingsford-Smith Cup and Stradbroke Handicap - will now offer prize money of $3 million across the board to attract some of Australia’s top sprinters.

“Prize money for the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 will be increased to $800,000 to reflect its status as one of Australia’s top-10 races on ratings,” Mr Parnell said.  

It is hoped the increases will help attract the country’s top-line sprinters back to Brisbane, as witnessed with Santa Ana Lane (Stradbroke), English (Doomben 10,000) and Impending (Kingsford Smith Cup) in 2018.

Middle-distance and staying types will have plenty of incentives to head north with more than $2 million up for grabs across the Hollindale Stakes ($500,000), Doomben Cup ($700,000) O’Shea Stakes ($400,000) and Brisbane Cup ($400,000).

The $1.5 million TAB Stradbroke Handicap also returns to its traditional home at Eagle Farm for the first time since 2016. 

BRC Chairman Neville Bell said it would be a momentous occasion for the club and Queensland racing participants.

“This is a landmark carnival because Eagle Farm is back in action for the Channel 7 Brisbane Racing Carnival, which is something that excites the industry across the country,” Mr Bell said.

“The Winter Racing Carnival is the true nursery of Australian feature racing with so many of the nation’s greatest racehorses showcasing the benefits of racing here. We’ve had Black Caviar and Winx in recent years and now the likes of The Autumn Sun looms amongst the next wave of stars.”

While Eagle Farm has returned to the racing calendar, the 2019 Winter Carnival will not revert to the traditional calendar as the track is taken carefully through its first year back. Accordingly, this will mean that the 2019 Treasury Queensland Oaks will be held at Doomben Racecourse.

“Racing Queensland and the BRC continue to implement a staged return to racing at Eagle Farm in line with the Dale Monteith report,” Mr Parnell said.

 As previously announced, prizemoney for all Group 3 races will be a minimum $140,000 and Listed races at $125,000.

2019 TAB Queensland Winter Racing Carnival – Key prizemoney increases

  • A.D.Hollindale Stakes (Group 2) – from $358,000 to $500,000;
  • Doomben 10,000 (Group 1) – from $700,000 to $800,000;
  • Champagne Classic (Group 2) – from $175,000 to $200,000;
  • Doomben Cup (Group 1) – from $650,000 to $700,000;
  • Bill Carter Stakes (Listed) – from $100,000 to $200,000;
  • BRC Sires’ Produce (Group 2) – from $250,000 to $400,000;
  • P. J. O’Shea Stakes (Group 2) – from $200,000 to $400,000;
  • Brisbane Cup (Group 2) – from $300,000 to $400,000;