Racing Queensland’s TAB Grand Slam bonuses have been increased to $165,000, with the Redcliffe Harness Racing Club’s stand-alone Group 1 meeting moved to a Saturday night timeslot in two major enhancements for the 2019 TAB Queensland Winter Harness Racing Carnival.
The TAB Grand Slam bonuses, introduced in 2018, brought with them record interstate participation and record wagering for the G2 Garrard's Sunshine Sprint and G1 TAB Blacks A Fake meetings.
The Group 1 Garrard’s Redcliffe Yearling Sale Series Final meeting will be moved to a Saturday night time-slot (June 22) to capitalize on a record wagering result in 2018, kick-starting the TAB Grand Slam Bonus legs, which include:
- $50,000 Blacks A Fake Bonus – Payable to any horse which completes the Garrard's Sunshine Sprint/Blacks A Fake winning double
- $15,000 Derby Bonus – Payable to any horse that wins the Redcliffe and TAB QLD Derbies
- $15,000 Oaks Bonus – Payable to horse that wins the Redcliffe and TAB QLD Oaks’
- $15,000 Trotters Bonus – Payable to horse that wins the Redcliffe and QLD Trotters Cups
- $20,000 Trainers’ Bonus – Payable to any trainer that can win two of the following
- TAB Queensland Derby
- TAB Queensland Oaks
- Queensland Trotters Cup and;
- TAB Blacks A Fake.
- $10,000 TAB Blacks A Fake Grand Final tickets – Payable to any horse who wins one of the 2018/19 Grand Circuit Races and starts in the 2019 TAB Blacks A Fake. Following the running of the Miracle Mile the ticket holders are:
- Tiger Tara
- Thefixer
- Turn It Up
- Rocknroll Lincoln
- Spankem
The enhanced bonuses complement recent prize money increases to the 2019 TAB Queensland Derby and Oaks, which will this year be run for $100,000 and Group 1 status.
Queensland driver and Sky Racing presenter Brittany Graham announced the enhancements on television program ‘In The Gig’ on Tuesday evening.
Graham, who will also host live coverage of Saturday’s Australian Female Drivers Championship at Albion Park, said the bonuses had reinvigorated the Queensland Winter Carnival.
“As a proud Queenslander it has been great to see TAB getting behind our Winter Carnival through increased prize money and bonuses, which we hope will bring some of these top-line horses to the Sunshine State this year,” Graham said.
Racing Queensland Harness Development and Strategy Manager David Brick said it was important to continue to find innovative ways to increase returns to participants, while boosting breeding stocks and wagering on Queensland races.
“The highly successful Breed A Trotter program, enhancements to the QBRED Scheme which will see horses eligible to win cash bonuses throughout their entire racing career in Queensland, the introduction of TAB meetings at Marburg and race series for grass roots horses and participants and, significant boosts to prize money, are just some examples of RQ’s commitment to ensure the sport prospers in the years to come.”